On the eve of international friendly matches with Belarus, the head coach of the Turkmenistan futsal team, Yakub Ovezov, named the names of 14 players who will begin a training camp at the FPB “Ratomka” sports and recreation center in Minsk:

• Goalkeepers: Rahimberdy Halmamedov, Meretgeldy Bayramov
• Players: Gylychmyrat Gylychmyradov, Daniil Panchenko, Kirill Charyev, Hamid Menglibayev, Akmyrat Durdyev, Rahatmyrat Nepesov, Alisher Hudaybergenov, Maksat Soltanov, Abdylla Nursahedov, Gurbangeldy Sahedov, Shiri Bayramdurdyev and Kerven Annaorazov.

The first game of the national teams of Turkmenistan and Belarus will be held on April 20 at the Mogilev “Olympian” sports complex at 16:00 Ashgabat time. The return match will be held on April 22 at the “Uruchye” Sports Palace in Minsk at 20:00 Ashgabat time.

In the world mini-football rankings, the Belarusian national team currently ranks 28th, and the Turkmenistan national team is 76th.

According to the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, on April 24, Yakub Ovezov’s team will also hold a test match against the team of IFC “Minsk”.

The second round matches were held at the ongoing international ice hockey tournament in Ashgabat, TDH reports.

In the afternoon, a match in Group A between the teams of Bahrain Ice Hockey Club (Bayhrain) and Ice Box Iran Mall (Iran) took place at the large arena of the Winter Sports Complex.

The first period was an equal struggle and ended in a 1-1 draw. However, in the next two Iranian hockey players seized the initiative and achieved a major victory – 8:1 (1:1, 4:0 and 3:0).

A match in Group B was held at the small arena of the Winter Sports Complex, in which Aqmola (Kazakhstan) and Dordoi (Kyrgyzstan) met. During the meeting, the Kyrgyzstanis scored three times. However, in the third period, the Kazakhstanis turned the game around and achieved a strong-willed victory – 5:3 (1:2, 1:0, 3:1).

Earlier, the eight-time champion of Turkmenistan "Galkan" crushed the Oman Nationals team from Oman with a record score at the tournament 15:1 (4:0, 1:0, 10:1). And in another parallel match, the Belarusian club Volat won against the Turkish team Team-Turkiye" – 3:0 (1:0, 0:0, 2:0).

Thus, after two rounds in group "A", Galkan took the lead with 6 points. Uzbek Feniks and Iranian Ice Box Iran Mall have 3 points each, but they played one less match. Bahrain Ice Hockey Club has no points yet after two games.

Aqmola (Kazakhstan) is in the lead in Group B after two wins with 6 points. 3 points each, but after one game, the teams "ADIHIC-Kazan" (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) and "Volat" (Belarus) are in the asset. Team-Turkiye has no points yet after two defeats.

In the third round, the matches of which will take place on April 17, will be played: in group "A" – "Galkan" (Turkmenistan) – "Ice Box Iran Mall" (Iran), "Feniks" (Uzbekistan) – "Bahrain Ice Hockey Club" (Bahrain); in group "B" – Volat (Belarus) – Aqmola (Kazakhstan), ADIHIC-Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation) – Team-Turkiye (Turkey).

April 17, 3rd round

Group "A"

• 10:00 Galkan (Turkmenistan) – Ice Box (Iran)
• 13:00 Phoenix (Uzbekistan) – Bahrain (Bahrain)

Group "B"

• 10:00 Volat (Belarus) – Akmola (Kazakhstan)
• 13:00 "ADIHIC-Kazan" (Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation) – "Team-Turkiye" (Turkey).

The players of the French PSG won a convincing victory over the Spanish Barcelona in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The match took place at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona and ended with a score of 4:1.

The winners included Ousmane Dembele (40th minute), Vitinha (54th) and Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice (61st and 89th). Rafinha scored the only goal for Barcelona (12th). Thanks to this victory, PSG reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. In the first match of the quarterfinals, the Parisians lost at home with a score of 2:3.

In the other match of the game day, Borussia Dortmund achieved a major victory over Spanish Atletico with a score of 4:2. The meeting was held in Dortmund.

Julian Brandt (34th minute), Ian Matsen (39), Niklas Fylkrug (71) and Marcel Zabitzer (74) scored goals for the winners. Borussia defender Mats Hummels (goal, 49th minute) and Angel Correa (64) scored for Atletico. In the first match in Madrid, Atletico won 2-1.

Borussia's entry into the semi-finals of the Champions League was the first for the Dortmund team since the 2012-13 season, when it reached the final of the tournament, but lost to Bayern Munich.

The Champions League final of the 2023/24 season will be held on June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London. The current winner of the tournament is Manchester City.

The hockey players of the Turkmen “Galkan” won their third major victory today at the international tournament taking place in Ashgabat. After a crushing success in the first match against the team from Bahrain - 8:1, and in the second - against the team from Oman (15:1), the wards of Andrei Makarov and Meylis Kuliyev defeated the “Ice Box” team from Iran with a double-digit score of 13:1.

After this victory, the “Galkan” hockey players scored 9 points and continue to hold the lead in group “A”.

The next game of the Turkmen team against the “Phoenix” team from Uzbekistan will be held tomorrow, April 18, at 10:00 local time.

Match schedule for the 4th round:

April 18, 4th round

Group “A”

• 10:00 “Galkan” (Turkmenistan) – “Phoenix” (Uzbekistan)
• 13:00 “Oman Khanjars” (Oman) – “Ice Box” (Iran)

Group “B”

• 10:00 “Volat” (Belarus) – “Orhis-Kazan” (Russia)
• 13:00 “Gumyush Skates SK” (Türkiye) – “Dordoi” (Kyrgyzstan)

Today, April 16, the second round of the international hockey tournament starts at the ice arena of the Winter Sports Sports Complex in Ashgabat. The game day program includes 4 matches:

April 16, 2nd round

Group "A"

• 10:00 “Galkan” (Turkmenistan) – “Oman” (Oman)
• 13:00 “Bahrain” (Bahrain) – “Ice Box” (Iran)

Group "B"

• 10:00 “Volat” (Belarus) – “Team-Turkiye” (Türkiye)
• 13:00 “Akmola” (Kazakhstan) – “Dordoi” (Kyrgyzstan)

Let us remind you that 10 club teams, divided into two groups, take part in the competition. Group “A” consisted of: “Galkan” (Turkmenistan), “Bahrain Ice Hockey Club” (Bahrain), “Ice Box Iran Mall” (Iran), “Oman Nationals” (Oman) and “Feniks” (Uzbekistan). Group “B” includes: “Volat” (Belarus), “Aqmola” (Kazakhstan), “Dordoi” (Kyrgyzstan), “ADIHIC-Kazan” (Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation), “Team-Turkiye” (Turkey).

On the first day of play, the eight-time champion of Turkmenistan “Galkan” won a confident victory with a score of 8:1 over the Bahrain team. In another match of Group A, the Uzbek Feniks won the Oman Nationals team - 11:3.

In Group “B”, the first victories were won by “Aqmola” (Kazakhstan) and “ADIHIC-Kazan” (Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation). The Kazakhs beat the “Team-Turkiye” team (Turkey) – 5:3, and the Russians beat the “Dordoi” club from Kyrgyzstan – 8:3.

Mikolas Alekna of Lithuania broke a 38 years old world record in discus throw. At the Oklahoma Throws Series competition in the USA, the 21 years old athlete threw a projectile 74,35 meters, thereby surpassing the achievement of Jurgen Schult from Germany (74,08 m, 1986). 

Alekna's fifth attempt was a record. It is worth noting that he surpassed his personal best by as much as 3 meters, set a week earlier.

This is not the first triumph for the young athlete. In 2022, he became the youngest medalist at the World Championships in discus throwing, winning silver, and also became European champion. In 2023, he added a world championship bronze to his collection.

Alekna's achievement is all the more impressive given that he is the son of two-time Olympic discus champion Virgilijus Alekna. Virgilius, winner of the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics, still holds the second best result in history (73,88 m).

Turkmen mixed martial arts light heavyweight fighter Dovletjan Yagshimuradov returns to his homeland after a crushing victory over Slovenian Jacob Nedo at the PFL 2 tournament.

Let us remind you that the Yagshimuradov – Nedo fight was held on April 13 in Las Vegas (USA). The Turkmen athlete won a confident victory by technical knockout in the first round.

Today, the Turkish Airlines plane carrying Yagshimuradov will land at Ashgabat International Airport, where the fighter will be greeted with honors.

To date, Dovletjan Yagshimuradov has 22 victories, 7 defeats and 1 draw. The athlete is on a streak of 4 victories in a row.

The opening of the spring racing season was held at the equestrian complex of Mary velayat of Turkmenistan. More than 100 Ahal-Teke horses aged 3 years and older, representing all regions of the country, took part in the races. A total of nine races were held, reports the IIC.

The opening program included a festive concert with performances by famous dance and folklore groups, bagshy and pop artists, as well as demonstration performances by athletes and exhibitions of decorative and applied arts.

At the finals of the competition, the winners of nine races were awarded prizes.

In the 29th round of the German football championship, “Bayer” defeated “Werder” Bremen with a score of 5:0 on their field in Leverkusen. The goals scored were Victor Boniface (penalty, 25th minute), Granit Xhaka (60), Florian Wirtz (68, 83, 90).

This victory permitted Leverkusen to extend their unbeaten streak to 43 matches. Xabi Alonso's team is unbeaten this season, with 38 wins and 5 draws in all tournaments. Alonso's team reached the final of the German Cup and the quarterfinals of the Europa League. “Bayer” equaled “Juventus'” record for the longest unbeaten streak among clubs in the top 5 European leagues.

Xabi Alonso has been at the helm of “Bayer” Leverkusen since October 2022 and his contract runs until the summer of 2026. This title was the first trophy in the coaching career of the Spanish specialist.

“Bayer” scored 79 points and broke away from their closest pursuers – “Bayern” and “Stuttgart” (63 points each). For the team from Leverkusen, this is the first championship title in history; before that they won silver medals five times. “Bayer” also has victories in the German Cup (1992/93) and UEFA Cup (1987/88).

The Joint-Stock Commercial Bank of Turkmenistan Senagat has developed the Senagat töleg mobile application for citizens to transfer funds to charity. This was announced during a Government meeting by Deputy Prime Minister H. Geldimyradov.

As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care provides financial assistance for various operations to children in medical institutions of the country, for the treatment of young patients raised in orphanages, specialized schools and boarding schools, as well as for the purchase of medical supplies. With the support of the Fund, humanitarian assistance has been provided to a number of States.

In this regard, it was proposed to put into operation the Senagat töleg mobile application, developed by the Joint-Stock Commercial Bank Senagat. It will allow citizens to wirelessly transfer donations to the Charity Fund account.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved this proposal aimed at meeting the wishes of the country's citizens and instructed the Deputy Prime Minister to implement the relevant work. The Head of State noted the importance of the activities of the Charitable Foundation, which systematically provides assistance to those in need of care, including children from abroad.

On April 12, a regular meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers was held in Minsk.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan D.Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus S.Aleynik, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.Nurtleu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic J.Kulubayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan S.Mukhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan B.Saidov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia M.Safaryan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan S.Mukhammetdurdiyev, Secretary General of the CIS S.Lebedev.

In a narrow format, the foreign ministers exchanged views on topical issues on the international agenda and cooperation in the Commonwealth format. A decision was made on the date and place of the next meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is scheduled to be held on October 7, 2024 in Moscow.

In a broad format, the heads of delegations discussed a number of issues, including consideration of the draft Convention on the legal status of delegations sent to the CIS member States. The members of the Council of Ministers approved the document.

The purpose of concluding the Convention is to settle at the international legal level the practical issues of organizing visits by delegations of the Commonwealth countries. The document will define the terminology base, the procedure for sending delegations and appointing appropriate personnel, as well as regulate the privileges and immunities necessary for members of delegations to perform their functions.

The Foreign Ministers have identified the CIS sports capitals for the next two years. In particular, in 2025 the city of Ganja (Republic of Azerbaijan) will receive the status of the Sports Capital of the Commonwealth, in 2026 the city of Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan) will become the sports center of the CIS.

In addition, the meeting approved the results of the implementation of the Action Program to enhance Partnership between the foreign ministries of the Commonwealth countries over the past year.

A statement was also signed at the meeting in connection with the 30th anniversary of the granting of observer status to the CIS at the UN General Assembly.

Turkmenistan will host the 38th meeting of the Conference of Heads and Responsible Representatives of Railway Transport Organizations of the member Countries of the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), which will be held from April 15 to 19 this year in Ashgabat.

As the Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers, M.Chakyev, the agenda of the 38th OSZhD meeting will consider the results of the activities of specialized Commissions and permanent working groups of the Organization for 2023, discussion of the Work Program for the coming years, as well as the question of the expediency of developing a draft OSZhD Development Strategy. In addition, it is planned to discuss issues of professional training and education of employees of the railway system.

Summarizing the report, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the country is implementing programmatic measures to develop international transport corridors of regional importance and developing mutually beneficial international cooperation. In this regard, the Head of state instructed the head of the Agency for Transport and Communications to prepare for the 38th meeting of the Conference at a high level.