Sport
Turkmenistan delegation participates in General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia
26.01.2026A delegation from Turkmenistan is participating in the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which is being held in Tashkent. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Delegations from 45 countries are participating in the forum, discussing the prospects for the development of the Olympic movement in Asia and electing a new head of the organisation. Turkmenistan is represented by the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan, Ata Akmammedov, and the Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Culture and Sport, Allaberdi Saparov. The key item on the agenda was the election of the President of the Olympic Council of Asia. The only candidate for this position is Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The need for elections is due to the fact that the current OCA President, Raja Randhir Singh (India), is unable to complete his term of office due to health reasons. The assembly is also discussing strategic directions for the development of Asian sport, including long-term plans until 2028. Particular emphasis is being placed on the digitalisation of sports institutions and expanding youth participation in the Olympic movement.
Young athletes from Turkmenistan performed successfully at the ATF tournament
26.01.2026Turkmen tennis players won silver at the ‘ATF Bahrain 14 & Under Category A’ international tournament in Isa Town (Bahrain). The competition was held under the auspices of the Asian Tennis Federation and brought together athletes from 17 countries, according to the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. 12-year-old Sulgun Ishankuliyeva, paired with Jordanian A. Gokashau, took second place in the doubles. In the final, the duo lost to the Russian-Iranian pair S. Himmelreich / Aylin Mohammadian 3:6, 3:6. In the singles, the best result among Turkmen athletes was achieved by Nazli Hudaykuliyeva. She reached the semi-finals, where she lost to the tournament winner Mengxian Li (China) 1:6, 4:6. In the match for third place, Hudaykuliyeva lost to Chiho Shirai (Japan) 5:7, 2:6 and took fourth place. At the start of the tournament, Nazli Hudaykuliyeva was ranked 19th in the Asian junior rankings, and Sulgun Ishankuliyeva was ranked 52nd. After the points are calculated, Hudaykuliyeva is expected to enter the top ten in the region. The tournament is part of the ATF ranking series. Participation in such competitions gives a chance to qualify for the junior tournaments at Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2027. The tennis players are coached by Yuri Rogussky, head coach of the Turkmenistan women's national team. In 2025, they won a place in the Asian final as part of the national team, defeating the Uzbekistan team at the U12 Central Asian Championship in Fergana.
The Turkmenistan national team is preparing for the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Tournament in Krasnoyarsk
26.01.2026From 29 January to 1 February, Krasnoyarsk will host the 37th Ivan Yarygin International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament. Among the participants is the Turkmenistan national team, according to the news website Turkmenportal. Turkmen wrestler Alp Arslan Begenjov said that the team is preparing for the competition: about six athletes from the country will participate in the tournament. Begenjov is currently training in Dagestan with his compatriot Dovlet Myradov. The tournament in memory of two-time Olympic champion Yarygin has been held since 1990 (since 1991 in Krasnoyarsk) and is considered the second most important in Russia after the national championship. The results of the tournament are taken into account when forming the national team for the European Championship. Three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar Saitiev remains the record holder for the number of victories (6 wins), while Zaur Uguev has the best result among active wrestlers (5 wins). In 2026, athletes from more than 20 countries are expected to participate, including Turkmenistan, India, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and others. The competitions will be held in all major weight categories, and the opening ceremony will be held on 30 January.
FIFA experts conduct training for FFT specialists in Ashgabat
25.01.2026FIFA international experts Gayoz Darsadze (Georgia) and Raimondas Statkevicius (Lithuania) are on a working visit to Ashgabat. They are conducting training seminars for specialists from the Football Federation of Turkmenistan (FFT) and participating in the development of the current strategy for the development of amateur football in the country, according to the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The meeting was held at the ‘Ýyldyz’ Hotel and was dedicated to the development of mass football. FIFA Regional Technical Advisor Gayoz Darsadze spoke about the organisation's priorities and global programmes. According to him, FIFA has studied the state of amateur football in 185 countries. Turkmenistan has become one of the platforms for the implementation of best practices. Darsadze noted that the FFT has already begun systematic work. He said that the long-term development of professional football is impossible without a strong base in the amateur sector. He named the ‘Football in Schools’ programme as a key area. It is seen as a basis for training players and as a social project to get young people involved in sport. The ‘Talent Development Scheme’ programme is also being developed. In conjunction with the FFT's technical department, modern methods of player selection are being introduced. In 2027, it is planned to launch an expanded ‘Football for Schools’ programme. Among the priorities for cooperation are education, training of coaches and technical specialists, as well as inclusiveness, including the development of women's and youth football. During the meeting, Darsadze noted the achievements of FC ‘Arkadag’ and expressed his gratitude to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for their support of sport and the development of football infrastructure.
Kyrgyzstan's champion ‘Bars’ has signed a prized footballer from Turkmenistan
21.01.2026The ‘Bars’ football club from Kyrgyzstan has signed a contract with 25-year-old Turkmen midfielder Teymur Charyev. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. T. Charyev is the most expensive footballer in Turkmenistan, with an estimated value of €250,000. He began his playing career at FC ‘Energetika Mary’, then played for the Kyrgyz team ‘Abdysh-Ata’ (66 matches) and the Belarusian ‘Torpedo-BelAZ’ (35 games, 1 goal, 2 assists). ‘Bars’, founded in 2024 in the Issyk-Kul region, sensationally became the Kyrgyzstan champions in 2025, defeating ‘Talant’ 2-1 in the decisive round and earning the right to play in the AFC Challenge League 2026/27.
Meredov's debut goal contributed to FC ‘Arkadag’s victory at the training camp in Turkey
21.01.202622-year-old Turkmenistan national team forward Dayanch Meredov scored his first goal for ‘Arkadag’ football club in a friendly match during a training camp in Antalya (Turkey). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. In the game against Kosovo's ‘Feronikeli’, D. Meredov opened the scoring, and the second goal was scored by Didar Durdyev, the long-time top scorer of the Turkmenistan championship. ‘Arkadag’ won 2-0. D. Meredov joined the club from ‘Kopetdag’ on 6 January, and this match was his debut. ‘Feronikeli’ is in second place in the Kosovo Super League after 18 rounds. ‘Arkadag’ is preparing for the new season at a training camp in Turkey (12 January – 2 February). The first official match will be on 11 February in the 1/8 finals of the AFC Champions League against Saudi Arabia's ‘Al-Nassr’ at the Olympic Stadium in Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan competed in the international stage of the Chinese Motocross Championship
16.01.2026The international stage of the Chinese Motocross Championship (CMX), held in Chongqing, was a significant event for world motorsport. Turkmenistan was represented at the competition by the ‘Kämil’ motorsport club, according to IIC. The team's participation was made possible due to state support for high-performance sports and allowed the athletes to gain valuable international experience. The competition took place on the challenging Jiangjin speed track with the participation of leading factory teams ‘QJMotor’, ‘CFMoto’ and ‘KAYO’. In the 250cc petrol class, Serdar Mollamyradov and Begench Annayev competed for ‘Kämil’, demonstrating a competitive level. In the electric motorcycle races, the club was represented by Konstantin Fedorychev and Karen Avagyan, emphasising the team's focus on modern and environmentally friendly technologies. The athletes' work was coordinated by the club's director, Master of Sports of Turkmenistan Shamyrat Gurbanov. The experience gained in China will be used in preparation for new international competitions, including open championships in neighbouring countries, in conjunction with the Automobile Sports Federation of Turkmenistan.
500 volunteers will ensure the successful staging of the AFC Champions League match in Ashgabat
16.01.2026On February 11, Ashgabat will host the AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 match between the Turkmen football club ‘Arkadag’ and the Saudi Arabian club ‘Al-Nassr’. The match will be held at the Olympic Stadium, according to the Orient news agency. A large-scale organisational programme has been prepared for the game. Five hundred volunteers, students of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports who have undergone special training, will be involved in servicing the match. They will be assisted by 15 translators and 15 student journalists, with coordination provided by 50 teachers. The volunteers have been trained in sports ethics, working with spectators, safety requirements and international protocol. The Turkmenistan Football Federation is finalising preparations, hoping that the high level of organisation will make the match a spectacular international event.
FC ‘Arkadag’ continues its training camp in Turkey with a match against a Bulgarian club
15.01.2026On 16 January, the ‘Arkadag’ football club will play a friendly match against the Bulgarian club ‘Septemvri’. The game will be held as part of the team’s training camp in Antalya, Turkey, according to Turkmenportal, citing the club’s press service. ‘Arkadag’ is holding its training camp from 12 January to 2 February. Several friendly matches are planned as part of the programme. Earlier it was reported that on 31 January, the Turkmen team will play against the reigning champions of Uzbekistan, Fergana’s ‘Neftchi’. ‘Septemvri’ represents Sofia and plays in the Bulgarian First League. After 19 rounds, the team has scored 15 points and is in second-to-last place in the table.
Turkmenistan wrestlers to compete in key international tournaments in 2026
14.01.2026In 2026, the Turkmenistan wrestling team is looking forward to a busy international season. The United World Wrestling (UWW) has published the official competition calendar, which includes key continental and world tournaments involving Turkmen athletes, according to IIC. The season will open with the Asian Championships for adults. The tournament will take place from 6 to 12 April in Bishkek and will be the first major event of the year, as well as an important stage in preparation for the world championships. Youth and junior teams are also included in the international programme. At the end of May, the Asian Championships for athletes under 17 and under 23 will be held in Danang. World championships are planned for the summer: the U-17 World Championship will take place from 27 July to 2 August in Baku, and the U-20 tournament from 17 to 23 August in Bratislava. The key event of the season will be the Asian Games, which will take place from 30 September to 3 October in Nagoya. Participation in this tournament is considered one of the most prestigious events on the continent. The autumn part of the calendar will be devoted to world championships among older age groups. The U-23 World Championships will take place from 12 to 18 October in Las Vegas, and the season will end with the World Championships among adults, which will be held in Manama from 24 October to 1 November. Thus, in 2026, Turkmenistan's wrestlers will compete in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East, gaining the opportunity to strengthen the country's position in the international wrestling arena.
The match between ‘Arkadag’ and ‘Al-Nassr’ will be broadcast in accordance with international standards
12.01.2026The State Committee of Turkmenistan for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography, in collaboration with Asia Football Group, is finalising preparations for the technical support of the ‘Arkadag’ vs ‘Al-Nassr’ match at the Olympic Stadium. This information was provided by the IIC. Twelve cameras, positioned in accordance with international standards, will be used for the television broadcast. Live coverage will begin 30 minutes before the start of the match. The broadcast will include exclusive footage of the teams' arrival, material from the changing rooms, and interviews with the head coaches. During the half-time break, viewers will be presented with a selection of key moments and analytical reviews. The ‘Türkmenistan Sport’ TV channel will broadcast a special pre-match programme one hour before the game from its modern studio at the International Broadcasting Centre. At the same time, the accreditation process for cameramen, photographers and editors is being finalised, who will provide comprehensive and prompt coverage of all stages of the sporting event.
Mergen Orazov has begun preparing FC ‘Arkadag’ for the AFC Champions League play-offs
09.01.2026Renowned Turkmen football expert Mergen Orazov has returned from Europe and taken charge of ‘Arkadag’ Football Club. In February, the team will play decisive matches in the AFC Champions League 2 play-offs against Saudi club ‘Al-Nassr’, according to IIC. Orazov's return is a significant event for Turkmen football. The coach is known as a successful specialist at club and international level, and his European experience is seen as an important factor in preparing the team to face one of the strongest clubs in the region. The coaching staff of FC ‘Arkadag’ is currently focusing on tactics, the physical condition of the players and studying the opponent. ‘Al-Nassr’ has a strong line-up and extensive experience of playing on the continental stage, which requires a high level of concentration and discipline from the Turkmen team. For ‘Arkadag’, participation in the AFC Champions League 2 play-offs is an important step in the club's development and a chance to make a name for itself on the Asian football scene. The appointment of M. Orazov underscores the seriousness of the team's tasks ahead of the February matches.
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