Kuwaiti "Al-Arabi", Maldivian "Maziya Sports" and "Abdysh-Ata" from Kyrgyzstan were drawn against Turkmenistan's Arkadag following the draw held today in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) for the third most important men's club tournament of the Asian Football Confederation called the AFC Challenge League 2.

The group stage of the AFC Challenge League will feature 18 teams, divided geographically into 2 zones - Western and Eastern.

It is worth noting that before the draw for the AFC Challenge League, "Arkadag" was in the second basket together with the clubs "Nejmeh" (Lebanon) and "Al-Futuwa" (Syria), which excluded the current champion of Turkmenistan from playing with these clubs in the group stage of the tournament.

Results of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League draw:

West Asia:

Group A:

• East Bengal (India)
• Najmeh (Lebanon)
• Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh)
• Paro (Bhutan) (group host)

Group B:

• Al Arabi (Kuwait) (group host)
• Arkadag (Turkmenistan)
• Abdysh-Ata (Kyrgyzstan)
• Maziya Sports and Recreation (Maldives)

Group C:

• Al Ahli (Bahrain)
• Al Futuwa (Syria)
• Al Seeb (Oman) (group host)
• Hilal Al-Quds (Palestine)

East Asia:

Group A:

• Shan United (Myanmar) (Group Host)
• Tainan City (Taiwan)
• Young Elephants (Laos)

Group B:

• Madura United (Indonesia)
• Prey Khan Reach Svey Rieng (Cambodia)
• SP Falcons (Mongolia) (Group Host)

The AFC Challenge League group stage matches will be held centrally from October 16 to November 2. Group B matches involving Arkadag will be held in Kuwait.

A total of eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals following the group stage: three group winners and one best second-placed team from West Asia, as well as the top two teams from each group in East Asia.

The playoff matches will be held in a home-and-away format. The quarter-finals will be held from 5 to 13 March 2025, the semi-finals from 9 to 17 April 2025, and the final is scheduled for 10 May 2025.

The 33rd edition of the Turkmenistan Football Cup started with three quarterfinal matches in Ashgabat and Balkanabat.

This year, the second most important club honorary trophy is being contested by 8 clubs of the top league. Three of them - «Altyn Asyr», «Ashgabat» and «Kopetdag» represent the capital. «Nebitchi» from Balkanabat and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashy - Balkan velayat, «Merv» - Mary velayat, «Ahal» - Ahal velayat, and the current champion and winner of the Turkmenistan Cup, «Arkadag», is a city of the same name of national importance.

The first goal of the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup was scored at the «Sport Toplumy» stadium in the Buzmeyin etrap of Ashgabat, where the capital's «Altyn Asyr» hosted Mary's «Merv». The author of it in the 7th minute was the home team player Rovshen Halmamedov. In the 30th minute, he scored the second goal, becoming the first author of a double in the current tournament.

In the 63rd minute, Myrat Annayev increased the advantage of «Altyn Asyr» to three goals from a penalty. Another 10 minutes later, Abdyresul Abdyyev got one goal back. But «Merv» could not achieve more. In the remaining time, «Altyn Asyr» held on to the winning score of 3:1, making a strong bid to reach the semi-finals.

«Arkadag» also has a good chance of reaching the semi-finals, having beaten Turkmenbashy's «Shagadam» 3-0 in the first match at the capital's «Nisa» stadium. It is noteworthy that three days earlier these teams played at the same stadium as part of the national championship. And then Vladimir Bayramov's charges routed the team from the Caspian coast - 5-1. This time, «Arkadag» was content with a modest victory compared to the first game, which the nominal home team secured thanks to Shanazar Tirkishov (26th minute), Arslanmyrat Amanov (75th) and Altymyrat Annadurdyyev (90+2nd). In the third cup match in Balkanabat, in which «Nebitchi» and «Ashgabat» met, the winner was determined shortly before the final whistle.

In the first half, the opponents exchanged goals: the home team responded to Tirkishmyrat Sarymyradov's goal in the 29th minute with an accurate strike by Elyas Akyyev in the second minute of stoppage time. The score remained tied until the 85th minute, when Shyhberdi Baynazarov scored the winning goal for «Ashgabat», preserving his team's good chances of reaching the semi-finals before the return match.

In this way, Ashgabat won its first victory under the leadership of the new head coach Tofik Shukurov, who replaced Seyit Seyidov before the start of the second half of the national championship.

The fourth semi-finalist of the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup will be determined in the matches between «Ahal» and «Kopetdag».

Remind that the winners of the quarterfinal and semi-final stages will be determined based on the results of two matches.

The return games of the 1/4 finals will be held on the 8th to 9th of September.

Two matches of the 19th round took place in Ashgabat and Balkanabat, marking the start of the third round-robin stage of the Turkmenistan Football Championship among the top league clubs.

The first game concluded at the Nisa stadium in the capital, where the current champion "Arkadag" hosted Turkmenbashi's "Shagadam." Both teams prepared intensively for the second half of the national championship. "Arkadag" held a training camp in Romania, playing five friendly matches with local teams, winning four and losing one to "Concordia" 0-2.

Ahead of the championship resumption, "Arkadag" made some roster changes. Goalkeeper Rahat Japarov returned to "Ahal," replaced by Rustem Akhalyev from "Ahal."

"Shagadam" trained in Kartepe, Turkey, under new head coach -73-year-old Ali Gurbani, honored coach of Turkmenistan, who replaced Yevgeny Tkachenko, now an assistant. "Shagadam" also signed four new players during the summer transfer window. The team included three players from "Ashgabat": Shatlyk Gurbanov, Didar Tejenov and Hojanazar Gurbanov. Goalkeeper Mukhamet Ovezov, formerly played for Mary "Energetik," strengthened the position. Several reserve players were promoted to the main team.

"Shagadam" started the match promisingly, opening the score in the 23rd minute by Hydyrgeldi Atjanov. However, this result was short-lived. Eight minutes later, Didar Durdyev equalized with a penalty – 1:1. In the 45th minute, Altymyrat Annadurdyev scored the second goal, and the teams went into halftime with "Arkadag" leading 2:1.

In the second half, Vladimir Bayramov's team scored three more unanswered goals against "Shagadam," credited to Shanazar Tirkishov (60th minute), Arslanmyrat Amanov (66th) and Mirza Beknazarov (85th).

With a 5:1 victory, "Arkadag" gained the maximum 51 points in 17 games. "Altyn Asyr" and "Ahal," sharing second and third places, trail the leader by 14 points, although the vice-champion has played one less match. "Shagadam" is fourth with 24 points.

In another 19th-round match in Balkanabat, the national championship outsiders "Nebitchi" and "Kopetdag" met. For the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan's team, it was the first match under new head coach Begench Garaev, who replaced Tofik Shukurov, now leading "Ashgabat" from the third round-robin stage.

The match ended in a 1:1 draw. Jumamyrat Jumayev's 30th-minute goal was answered by Dowran Berdyev's 52nd-minute equalizer.

After this game, "Nebitchi" caught up with "Ashgabat" in 7th place with 16 points, while "Kopetdag" remains at the bottom with 13 points. Earlier, in the 19th round's opening match, "Ahal" defeated "Ashgabat" 3:0.

The final game of this round between "Altyn Asyr" and "Merv" will take place later due to the vice-champion's participation in the AFC Champions League-2 qualification.

Matches of the 20th round will be held on August 24. On this day, "Shagadam" will play "Ashgabat," "Merv" will face "Nebitchi," "Arkadag" will meet "Altyn Asyr," and "Kopetdag" will play "Ahal."

The 33rd Turkmenistan Football Cup has started. This year, 8 clubs will compete for the country's second most important club trophy. Three of them - Altyn Asyr, Ashgabat and Kopetdag - represent the capital. Nebitchi from Balkanabat and Shagadam from Turkmenbashi - Balkan velayat, Merv - Mary velayat, Ahal - Ahal velayat, and the current champion and winner of the Turkmenistan Cup, Arkadag, is a city of the same name of national importance.

The first quarterfinal matches will be held on August 20-21, the return matches are scheduled for September 8-9.

The draw determined the following quarter-final pairs: Arkadag vs. Shagadam, Nebitchi vs. Ashgabat, Altyn Asyr vs. Merv, and Akhal vs. Kopetdag.

The dates for the semi-final matches and the final of the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup will be determined later.

Schedule of the first matches of the 1/4 finals of the 2024 Turkmenistan Football Cup:

August 20 (Tuesday)

17:30 "Arkadag" - "Shagadam"

Stadium: "Nisa" (Ashgabat)

18:00 "Nebitchi" - "Ashgabat"

Stadium: "Sport toplumy" (Balkanabat)

17:30 "Altyn Asyr" - "Merv"

Stadium: “Sport Topluma” (Ashgabat, Buzmeyin etrap)

August 21 (Wednesday)

17:30 “Ahal” – “Kopetdag”

Stadium: “Nisa” (Ashgabat)

As part of the multidisciplinary exhibition KidsExpo, which will be held from August 19 to 22 on the territory of the mobile exhibition center behind the Karakum Hotel, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan will organize a special section for children.

In this section, children will be able to take their first steps into the world of football, meet famous football players of the country and even play with them.

In a section reminiscent of a mini-football field, interesting discussions about football will be held, and children will also be able to try their hand at football in the fijtle format.

The Football Federation of Turkmenistan hopes that this event will help children become more familiar with the world of sports and inspire them to new achievements.

The current champion of Turkmenistan, FC "Arkadag", found itself in the second pot before the upcoming draw for the group stage of the AFC Challenge League for the 2024/25 season. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has published the team pots ahead of the draw on August 22.

According to published information, three groups of four teams will be formed in the western zone of the tournament. "Arkadag" fell into the second basket along with the Lebanese club "Nijme" and the Syrian "Al-Fotuwa". The first pot included the Indian "East Bengal", "Al-Ahly" from Bahrain and the Kuwaiti "Al-Arabi".

The eastern zone of the tournament will be represented by two groups of three teams. A total of 24 clubs will take part in the draw: 12 in the western zone and 6 in the eastern zone.

The group stage of the AFC Challenge League will be held in a centralized format. Western zone matches will take place from October 26 to November 1, and eastern zone matches will take place from October 27 to November 2.

The system for qualifying for the playoffs is different for the two zones. In the eastern zone, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. In the western zone, the group winners, as well as the best team among the runners-up, will qualify for the quarterfinals.

The draw on August 22 will determine the final composition of the groups and opponents of "Arkadag" in the upcoming tournament.

In his first match for "Real Madrid" in the Spanish league, Kylian Mbappe failed to impress. The meeting with "Mallorca" ended in a 1-1 draw, and the French striker received one of the lowest ratings among "Los Blancos'" starting players.

According to Flashscore, Mbappe's game was rated 6,9 points. Only Daniel Carvajal (6,5) and Ferland Mendy (5,6) performed worse, the latter receiving a straight red card late in the match.

After the game, Mbappe addressed the fans via his social network page: "Not a good result. We raise our heads and focus on the next game. Hala Madrid!"

Despite the unsuccessful start, Mbappe will have the opportunity to rehabilitate himself in the next round. On August 25, "Real" will host "Valladolid" at the "Santiago Bernabeu".

Young Turkmen chess players won gold and silver medals at the Central Asian Classical Chess Championship among boys and girls aged 8 to 16, which was held from August 10 to 18 in Korumdu (Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan).

In the U8 girl’s category, schoolgirl Aylar Khemraeva from the Mary region (FIDE rating - 1483) won the gold medal, scoring 7.5 points out of 9 possible. After losing the first round, Aylar was able to recover and win the next four games in a row. In the 6th round, Aylar tied, and in the last three games she won three decisive victories, including over her opponents from Kazakhstan Amelia Ametova and Kyrgyzstan Amina Shergalieva, who ultimately took second and third places, respectively.

This spring, at the World Blitz Championship in Albania, seven-year-old Aylar took a worthy 4th place in the same category under 8 years old. The talented girl, who trains under the guidance of honored coach of Turkmenistan Ejegyz Yalkanova, became the champion of the country for the first time in February of this year.

In the U10 girl’s category, nine-year-old Ashgabat schoolgirl and student of the first private chess academy "Kusht Alemi" Lale Vepayeva (FIDE rating - 1481) won the silver medal with 6.5 points out of 9 possible. After the 5th round, Lale had only 2.5 points (1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws), but in the last four rounds she won four important victories in a row, including over the tournament champion from Kyrgyzstan Aimana Saizildayeva (rating - 1549), and rose to the second step of the podium. And the top three was closed by the chess player from Kazakhstan Inzhu Abibulla.

In February, at the national championship in the U10 category, Lale finished in the top ten, which testifies to the high level of play and the potential of young girls in our country.

The finishing "spurts" of young girls demonstrate not only the level of play, but also the high sports spirit and desire to win of Turkmen chess players. Another proof of this is the high efficiency of our participants in the Central Asian Championship. Five young representatives of our country won two medals. In total, more than 300 chess players took part in the tournament, including 128 representatives of Kyrgyzstan, 98 participants from Kazakhstan and 69 from Uzbekistan.

Despite the impressive numbers of participants from neighboring countries, our country took a worthy third place in the overall medal count.

The tournament was held according to the Swiss system in 9 rounds with a classic time control - 90 minutes for each player with an increment of 30 seconds, starting from the first move.

Dear participants of the International Trade Fair!

Dear guests!

Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on the start of the International Exhibition-Fair "Kids Expo: everything for children", which in the year of the Renaissance of a new era of a powerful state, held under the motto "The Storehouse of reason of Magtymguly Pragy", was organized for the first time in white marble Ashgabat!

In independent, neutral Turkmenistan, the land of happy childhood, where the most intimate desires come true and grandiose goals are achieved, children – the charming flowers of our life – are surrounded by great care from the state. Modern institutions of preschool and school education, physical culture and recreation centers are being built throughout the country, thereby creating a favorable social environment that allows you to gain fundamental knowledge, broaden your horizons and form the best moral traits in children.

Recognizing childhood as the most important period of human life, Turkmenistan defines as priorities the comprehensive preparation of the younger generation for life in society, increasing creative initiative and skills in children, educating them of high moral qualities, feelings of patriotism and civic solidarity.

The fair, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen Expo company, will feature products, school supplies and electronic goods for toddlers, students and students. All products of both domestic and foreign production are of high quality, environmentally friendly and meet modern requirements. On the sidelines of the review, profile companies will be able to exchange experiences, thematic workshops, presentations of innovative developments will take place, which significantly increases the value of such a large-scale event.

Dear friends!

Dear guests!

Today, independent, neutral Turkmenistan consistently and successfully implements the Sustainable Development Goals proclaimed by the United Nations. In this regard, our country actively cooperates with other States and leading international structures in such key areas as modern education of the younger generation, health protection, protection of the interests and rights of women and children.

During the International Exhibition-At the Kids Expo: Everything for Children fairs, specialized companies will have the opportunity to present their innovative developments – goods and services. I am sure that the colorful expositions will arouse the interest of international partners, investors and representatives of the relevant industry from different countries.

The current International Trade Fair will become a landmark event in the cultural and business life of Turkmenistan, as it is not just a great platform for demonstrating the capabilities of businessmen, but also a kind of festive event for parents and their children.

Dear participants of the International Trade Fair!

Dear friends!

Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on the start of the International Exhibition and Fair "Kids Expo: everything for children"!

I wish you good health, a happy life and great success in your work!

President of Turkmenistan

Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

In Shymkent (Kazakhstan) the Central Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship (JJAU Regional Championship Central Asia 2024) ended, where the Turkmen athlete Jelilmuhammet Hojamyradov won the title of champion among adults.

In the weight category up to 77 kg in the contact discipline, Hojamyradov did not lose to any opponent, winning in the final over the Kazakh athlete Zharmakhan Bakirov.

The tournament was attended by 570 athletes from 6 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Italy and Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan was represented by 26 athletes who won a total of 17 medals – 2 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze, the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation reports.

Today, on August 12, the International Youth Day is celebrated.

In honor of this holiday, the representative office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together with the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan, held a bright and eventful event in Ashgabat.

This year, the global theme chosen by the UN, "Digital ways of Youth for Sustainable Development", emphasized the importance of involving young people in building the country's digital future.

This event brought together about 100 young people and became an important platform for discussing key issues related to unlocking the potential of youth.

The event also discussed the formation of a secure digital space, the development of digital literacy, gender equality, active participation of young people in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the popularization of physical culture and a healthy lifestyle.

In his speech, the head of the UNFPA Representative Office in Turkmenistan, Kemal Goshliyev, stressed the crucial role that the younger generation plays in shaping our digital future.

As part of the event, a performance dedicated to a secure digital future was shown. In addition, the guests saw bright performances by young gymnasts and an incendiary flash mob.

On August 16, the third round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship started with a match between the teams "Ahal" and "Ashgabat". The game took place at the Nisa stadium in the capital and ended with a convincing 3-0 victory for Ahal.

The author of the first goal was Meylis Dineyev, who opened the scoring already in the 6th minute. In the 55th minute, Elman Tagayev doubled his team's advantage, and Hakmuhamet Byashimov put the final point in the match in the 78th minute.

This victory allowed Ahal to score 37 points and equalize with the Altyn Asyr team, which ranks second in the Major League standings. Recall that the match of Altyn Asyr against Merv was postponed to another date due to the club's participation in the preliminary round of the AFC-2 Champions League.

Ashgabat, with 16 points in the asset, remains in the sixth position of the standings.

On August 17, two more matches of the 19th round of the championship will be held: Arkadag will host Shagadam, and Nebitchi will meet Kopetdag.