Sport
Turkmen wrestlers presented a calendar of international tournaments
09.01.2026Turkmen wrestlers will take part in a number of major international tournaments in 2026, according to the news website AsmanNews. The season will open with the Asian Championships for adults in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (6–12 April), followed by the U-17 and U-23 tournaments in Danang, Vietnam (23–31 May). In the summer, the world championships will be held: the U-17 in Baku, Azerbaijan (27 July–2 August) and the U-20 in Bratislava, Slovakia (17–23 August). In the autumn, athletes will compete in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan (30 September–3 October) and the U-23 World Championships in Las Vegas, USA (12–18 October). The season will close with the World Championships in Manama, Bahrain (24 October–1 November).
A ‘Grassroots’ children's football festival was held in Ashgabat
07.01.2026The ‘Ashgabat’ Stadium hosted the ‘Grassroots’ Children's Football Festival, organised by the Football Federation of Turkmenistan in conjunction with the Olympic Reserve Children's and Youth School. This was reported by the Orient news agency. About 150 children born in 2014-2015 took part in the event. The programme included game training to develop basic football skills, competitions, relays and exercises at various themed stations. At the end of the festival, all participants received footballs as gifts from the Federation.
Rovshen Muhadov has left his position on the coaching staff of FC ‘Arkadag’
07.01.2026Rovshen Muhadov has left ‘Arkadag’ Football Club following the expiry of his contract, according to news website Turkmenportal. The specialist noted that the parting was amicable and respectful, with both sides thanking each other for their cooperation and wishing each other success in their future professional endeavours. Rovshen Muhadov also expressed his gratitude to the club's fans for their support and wished the team luck in upcoming matches. In September 2025, FC ‘Arkadag’ included R. Muhadov in its application for the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2 as head coach. At the same time, in accordance with AFC regulations, Vladimir Bayramov, who did not have a PRO licence, continued to actually manage the team, while Rovshen Muhadov formally held the position of head coach in the tournament. Under the leadership of the coaching staff, ‘Arkadag’ reached the AFC Champions League Round of 16 for the first time in its history, finishing second in Group B. The team won one game, drew four and lost one. In the round of 16, the Turkmen club will face Saudi Arabia's ‘Al-Nassr’. The first match will take place on 11 February in Ashgabat, with the return leg scheduled for 18 February in Saudi Arabia.
A year of record victories in sport has strengthened Turkmenistan's position on the world stage
07.01.2026The Turkmenistan national team significantly strengthened its position in the international sporting and intellectual arena in 2025, winning 977 medals. This is 225 more awards than the previous year, reflecting the steady growth of the country's potential. The geography of participation has also expanded: in 2025, Turkmen athletes and students took part in 226 international competitions, compared to 190 in 2024. The medal tally included 304 gold, 287 silver and 386 bronze awards. These results were achieved thanks to consistent state policy in the fields of sport, science and education. At the end of the year, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held an award ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of international Olympiads and competitions, noting the significance of their successes for the country's prestige and the role of young people's achievements in shaping its future. Addressing the participants of the ceremony, the Head of State emphasised the contribution of the younger generation to the development of Turkmenistan, expressed his gratitude to teachers and coaches for training the winners and confirmed the country's unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive support for science, education and sport. During the event, the President's decrees on awarding distinguished participants were announced. Schoolchildren and students who won prizes at international Olympiads received cash prizes ranging from 40,000 to 100,000 manats, and their mentors received 100,000 manats each. Athletes and coaches were also rewarded: prize-winners received cash payments, and winners of international tournaments received the keys to 2025 Toyota Camry HEV 2.5L cars. The size and form of the rewards were determined taking into account the level of the competitions, their international status and the number of participating countries. The development of sport continues to be one of the key areas of Turkmenistan's state policy. Comprehensive reforms are being implemented in the country, aimed at educating and physically training the younger generation as part of long-term target programmes and strategies. At the same time, the material and technical base of educational institutions is being modernised. In accordance with the socio-economic development programmes for 2022–2052 and 2022–2028, the construction of new schools and educational institutions equipped with modern computer technology, laboratory equipment, interactive and multimedia teaching aids is continuing. In the field of sport, the priorities remain the development of mass physical culture and high-performance sport. The state is investing in the construction of modern sports facilities and the training of specialised professionals. All velayats have sports and recreation complexes, equestrian centres, stadiums and specialised schools that meet current standards. Modern medical and diagnostic centres equipped with equipment from leading global manufacturers have been put into operation in Ashgabat and provincial centres. This has made it possible to create a sports and recreation infrastructure that meets international requirements. Along with high-performance sports, special attention is paid to the development of national sports. Turkmen athletes successfully represent the country at Asian and world championships, winning prizes and receiving state incentives for their achievements.
FC ‘Arkadag’ strengthened its attack ahead of matches against ‘Al-Nassr’
06.01.2026The ‘Arkadag’ football club has signed contracts with two forwards from the Turkmenistan national team. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The newcomers are 22-year-old Dayanch Meredov from ‘Kopetdag’ and 24-year-old Rahman Myratberdiyev from ‘Altyn Asyr’. The strengthening of the attack line is timed to coincide with the AFC Champions League 1/8 finals against Saudi Arabia's ‘Al-Nassr’, where Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo plays. The first match will take place on 11 February, with the return leg on 18 February. Earlier, 25-year-old midfielder Meylis Diniyev, who previously played for ‘Kyrgyzaltyn’ and ‘Ahal’, joined FC ‘Arkadag’.
Midfielder for the Turkmenistan national team transferred to FC ‘Arkadag’
03.01.202625-year-old midfielder Meylis Diniyev of the Turkmenistan national team has officially become a player for the ‘Arkadag’ football club. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Last season, M. Diniyev played for Kyrgyzstan's ‘Kyrgyzaltyn’, based in Kara-Balta. He played 12 matches and scored two goals. The player's market value is estimated at €150,000. It is worth noting that in the 1/8 finals of the AFC Champions League 2, ‘Arkadag’ football club will face Saudi Arabia's ‘Al-Nassr’, which includes world stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
The dates for the matches between ‘Arkadag’ and ‘Al-Nassr’ in the AFC Champions League 2 have been set
03.01.2026The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the dates and times for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 matches. Turkmenistan's ‘Arkadag’ will play Saudi Arabia's ‘Al-Nassr’ on 11 and 18 February, according to Turkmenportal. The first match will take place on 11 February at the ‘Arkadag’ Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. Kick-off is at 18:45 Ashgabat time. The return leg will be held on 18 February in Riyadh and will start at 21:15. In the group stage, ‘Al-Nassr’ took first place in Group D, winning six matches out of six with a goal difference of 22:2. ‘Arkadag’ finished second in Group B with one win, four draws and one defeat, with a goal difference of 5:6. The winner of the match will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the ‘Al-Zawraa’ (Iraq) vs. ‘Al-Wasl’ (UAE) match.
The Turkmenistan Tennis Federation has summarised the results of 2025
30.12.2025The final conference of the Turkmenistan Tennis Federation was held in Ashgabat, dedicated to the results of 2025 and plans for the next season. Participants summarised the sporting and organisational results of the federation's work, according to IIC. During the year, Turkmen tennis players achieved a number of significant results on the international arena. Suleyman Hudayberdiyev won a tournament in Saudi Arabia, and 11-year-old Sulgun Ishankuliyeva won a competition in Dubai. The U14 women's team was among the five strongest teams in the region, and the U16 team made its debut in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. The 30+ team reached the quarter-finals of the world championship, defeating the Canadian team. The conference also noted the launch of the ‘Wheelchair Tennis’ programme in Turkmenistan. The project is being implemented on the basis of a memorandum between the Tennis Federation of Turkmenistan and UNICEF and is aimed at developing inclusive sport. In 2025, the federation trained 15 certified coaches, bringing their total number to 60. In the summer, the U12 girls' team defeated the Uzbekistan national team and reached the final of the Asian competition, while the U14 juniors took first place in the team standings at an international tournament in Thailand. In the autumn, an ITF Level 2 training seminar was held in Ashgabat with the participation of coaches from five countries. The season ended with the Turkmenistan men's team defeating Guam in the Davis Cup zonal tournament in Bahrain. The team earned the right to compete in Group IV of the Asia-Oceania zone in 2026. At the end of the conference, athletes and coaches were awarded honorary diplomas.
FC ‘Arkadag’ will play against ‘Al Nassr’ in the AFC Champions League Round of 16
30.12.2025Turkmen football club ‘Arkadag’ will face Saudi Arabia's ‘Al Nassr’ in the round of 16 of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League. The opponent was determined by the results of the playoff draw, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, according to IIC. ‘Arkadag’ advanced to the playoff stage from second place in the group and was placed in the second pot. ‘Al Nassr’ was among the seeded teams as the winner of its quartet. The return matches of the 1/8 finals of the western region are scheduled for 10–11 and 17–18 February 2026. One of the matches is expected to take place in Ashgabat. ‘Arkadag’ secured their place in the play-offs on 20 December, beating Bahrain's ‘Al Khaldiya’ 1-0 in the final round of the group stage. The quarter-finals of the tournament will take place in March, and the semi-finals in April. The AFC Champions League 2 final, in which the winners of the western and eastern groups will meet, is scheduled for 16 May 2026.
‘Arkadag’ Football Club wins the Turkmenistan Cup
28.12.2025The ‘Arkadag’ football club won the Turkmenistan Cup for the third time, finishing the season with maximum results and securing a treble. This was reported by the IIC. The team, led by Vladimir Bayramov, had previously become the national champion and Super Cup winner, and now added to its trophy collection with a cup victory. In the final match, ‘Arkadag’ defeated ‘Ahal’ with a score of 2:1. This final was the third in the history of the ‘Arkadag’ football club. After the final whistle, an award ceremony was held. In addition to the Turkmenistan Cup, the club's players were awarded medals for winning the national championship. The awards were presented to the winners by the Chairman of the Turkmenistan Football Federation, Guvanch Ovekov, Deputy Chairman Nazar Choliyev and representative of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports, Juma Jumayev.
Turkmen judge joins Qatar Cup weightlifting board
25.12.2025The 10th International Weightlifting Cup was held in Qatar. Osmanguly Handurdyev, an international referee from Turkmenistan, took part in the tournament, according to IIC. He was part of the judging panel for the competition, which was held under the auspices of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). His participation ensured impartiality and professional judging at the tournament, which has qualifying status for the world rankings. The presence of a Turkmen judge at a competition of this level confirms the trust of the IWF and the country's participation in the international sports system. Turkmen athletes also competed in the tournament. The team won six medals. In the 67 kg weight category, Bunyat Rashidov won gold in the snatch (145 kg), silver in the clean and jerk (169 kg) and became the winner in the total — 314 kg. In the 45 kg category, Ogulshat Amanova lifted 77 kg in the snatch and 93 kg in the clean and jerk. She won three bronze medals, including the award for the total of 170 kg.
The Turkmenistan national team won six medals at the Qatar Cup in weightlifting
23.12.2025Athletes from the Turkmenistan national weightlifting team won six medals at the 10th International Qatar Cup, which is being held in Doha from 19 to 27 December. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Bunyat Rashidov won two gold medals in the 67 kg category (snatch – 145 kg, total – 314 kg) and a silver medal in the clean and jerk (169 kg). Ogulshat Amanova in the 45 kg category won three bronze medals — in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. The Qatar Cup combines three tournaments at once, including the international cup, the Arab and West Asian weightlifting championships.
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