The Turkmenistan National Sambo Team successfully performed on the first day of the Asia-Oceania Championships, which started in Tashkent. Turkmen athletes added six medals to their team's collection: two silver and four bronze, the publication "Turkmenistan: Golden Age" reports.

The prestigious continental competitions brought together more than 600 athletes from 23 countries in the region. The tournament covers all age categories - from cadets to veterans, and participants compete in the disciplines of sport and combat sambo among men and women, as well as in sambo among visually impaired athletes in the SVI-1 (totally blind) and SVI-2 (visually impaired) classes.

Mukhammetmyrat Babekov won silver medals in sport sambo (weight category up to 58 kg) and Bezirgen Begendzhov in combat sambo (up to 98 kg) for the Turkmen team.

On his way to the final, Babekov confidently fought in the quarterfinal against Mongolian sambo wrestler Munkhbat Genendaram (2:1) and the semifinal against Kyrgyzstan's Kimal Obolbekov (2:1). In the decisive fight, the Turkmen athlete lost to the tournament host Ilkhom Parmonov from Uzbekistan with a score of 3:5.

Begendzhov won a convincing victory over Kyrgyzstan's Bekbolsun Kerimbekov (8:0) in the semifinal, but in the final he was unable to withstand Kazakhstan's Raikhan Madi, losing with a score of 1:4.

Bronze medals for the Turkmen team were brought by the representative of men's sport sambo Sapar Dovletov (up to 64 kg) and the women's part of the team: Aziza Nazarova (up to 50 kg), Zuleikha Khudaiberdiyeva (up to 54 kg) and Merzhen Dzhoraeva (up to 59 kg).

Dovletov started the tournament with a confident victory over Mohammed Albaker Algarrawi (10:0), then in the semi-finals he lost to the future champion Zhandos Beisenbayev from Kazakhstan (0:6), but in the fight for bronze he defeated South Korean sambo wrestler Lee Syngang with a score of 2:0. Nazarova, Khudaiberdiyeva and Dzhoraeva stopped at the semi-final stage, taking third place in their weight categories.

The coaching staff and players of the Turkmen Arkadag are determined to turn the tide in the return semi-final match of the AFC Challenge League against Kuwaiti Al-Arabi, despite the unsuccessful outcome of the first meeting. To reach the final, the hosts need to win with a difference of three goals or more, reports a Turkmenportal correspondent.

“The first match did not turn out the way we expected, but the confrontation consists of two games, so we expect to turn the tide in tomorrow’s match,” said Arkadag head coach Akhmed Allaberdiyev at a pre-match press conference.

According to the coach, the team is approaching the decisive match in an optimal lineup, with the exception of Resul Khodjaev, who was injured while playing for the national team. The coach noted that the club has high-level players who will take to the field with one goal – to win.

Arkadag defender Guychmurad Annakuliyev confirmed the team's fighting spirit: "We are in a good mood, the fighting spirit is high. Our task is very clear - we only need a victory tomorrow." According to the footballer, the key to success will be "cohesion and team play."

The fans should play a special role in the upcoming match. "The match will be held with the support of the home stands, serious support is expected. We thank our fans for believing in the team and we will try to justify their trust," Allaberdiyev emphasized.

The return match of the 1/2 finals of the AFC Challenge League will take place on Wednesday, April 16. The match starts at 15:30 Ashgabat time.

Let us remind you that in the first semi-final match, Arkadag lost away with a score of 0:2.

President of the Turkmenistan National Electronic Sports Federation (TMESF) Mekan Eyeberdyev joined the board of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) and was also elected vice-president of the Central Asian Esports Association. This was reported by TMESF.

The elections took place during the First Elective General Assembly of the AESF, held online. The event was attended by the heads of national esports federations of Asian countries, as well as Deputy Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Vinod Tiwari.

In addition, in February 2025, the Central Asian Esports Association was officially established to coordinate the efforts of countries in the region to develop digital sports. Following the elections in this organization, TMESF Secretary General Nazar Udeumuradov was appointed to the position of Secretary General of the Association.

According to TMESF, these appointments reflect the strengthening of Turkmenistan’s position in the international esports community and open up new prospects for cooperation, exchange of experience and development of sports initiatives at both the regional and pan-Asian levels.

Football club "Akhal" won a confident victory over "Merv" in the match of the 6th round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship. The match was held at the stadium "Kopetdag" in Ashgabat and ended with a score of 3:0.

The goals of "Merv" were scored by Dayanch Meredov (50th minute), Ibrahim Amangeldyev (58) and Nazar Tovakilova (66).

"Akhal" won its fourth victory of the season, gained 12 points and consolidated its position in the first place of the Premier League table. Second-placed "Altyn Asyr" is two points behind.

"Merv" suffered its third defeat in a row and remains in seventh place with 4 points.

In other matches of the round, the capital's Altyn Asyr tied 1:1 with Shagadam, and Nebitchi also drew with Kopetdag (0:0).

In the next round on April 19, Altyn Asyr will play away with Merv, Shagadam will host Kopetdag, and Akhal will travel to Ashgabat.

Representatives of the women's chess team of Turkmenistan, Jahan Rejepova and Bagul Ezizova, took fourth and sixth places respectively at the Asian Zonal Championship (Zone 3.4), which was held in Almaty from April 1 to 10.

Particularly distinguished was 14-year-old Jahan Rejepova, who was awarded the title of FIDE Women's Master (WFM) and fulfilled the first norm of Women's International Master (WIM). This was reported by the press service of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan.

The tournament was an official qualifying round for the 2025 FIDE World Cup and brought together 131 leading chess players from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan, including 87 men and 44 women.

Vice-President of the Asian Chess Federation and First Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Darmen Sadvakasov noted at the closing ceremony the mature level of play of the Turkmen girls, especially 14-year-old Jahan Rejepova, who has loudly declared herself at a high international level.

During the competition, Rejepova scored a number of impressive victories over strong opponents, including players from the Kazakhstan national team. She scored 1.5 points out of 2 possible in games against the silver medalists of the Budapest 2024 Olympiad, including a win over WGM Liya Kurmangalieva (FIDE rating 2249) and a draw with the tournament’s top seed, WGM Aloua Nurman (2347).

Thanks to her successful performance, Redzhepova increased her FIDE rating by 137 points, bringing it to 2150. With a score of 6.5 points out of 9 possible, she took fourth place, stopping just one step away from the podium and a ticket to the World Cup.

Another representative of Turkmenistan, international female candidate Byagul Ezizova (1941), took sixth place with 6 points.

In the men's tournament, Turkmen chess player Saparmurat Atabayev (2530), who recently received the title of grandmaster, took ninth place with 6 points, failing to hold a draw in the final round in a duel with Muhammadzokhid Suyarov.

Following the results of the championship, three chess players won tickets to the World Cup: Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan) - 7.5 points, Elnaz Kaliakhmet (Kazakhstan) - 7 points and Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan) - 7 points; as well as four chess players: Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan) - 7.5 points, Satbek Ahmedinov (Kazakhstan) - 7 points, Alisher Suleimenov (Kazakhstan) - 7 points and Muhammadzohid Suyarov (Uzbekistan) - 7 points.

The volleyball tournament "Sport - Messenger of Peace" among higher education institutions, dedicated to World Health Day, was held in Ashgabat from April 1 to 8.

The Nebitchi volleyball team of the Yagshygeldy Kakayev International Oil and Gas University won confident victories in all their matches with a score of 3-0. The volleyball players were able to reach the final of the tournament, successively defeating the Binagar, Oguz Khan and Yupek Yoly teams.

In the final match, the Nebitchi volleyball players won a confident victory over the Talyp Sport team of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Education and Sports with a score of 3:0, winning the championship title of the tournament.

A delegation from Turkmenistan participated in the second phase of the Regional Forum of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Olympic Solidarity (OS), which took place in Dushanbe.

The event convened representatives from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of over 22 West and Central Asian nations to discuss matters concerning the hosting of the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain in 2025, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held in Riyadh in 2026, and the XX Summer Asian Games scheduled for 2026 in the Japanese cities of Aichi and Nagoya.

Participants also deliberated on the programs of the International Olympic Committee and the preparation of athletes for the XXXIV Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

At the opening ceremony, the Minister of Sport of Tajikistan, Zulfikor Gulahmadzoda, delivered a speech expressing confidence that the outcomes of this forum would lay a solid foundation for new achievements and fruitful cooperation within the Olympic Movement.

Within the framework of the forum, a "Fun Run" was organized to promote a healthy lifestyle, popularize sports, and strengthen friendship among the participating delegations of this significant international event.

The first phase of the forum was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, with the participation of representatives from the NOCs of East, South, and Southeast Asia.

The champion of Turkmenistan, the Arkadag football club, lost away to Kuwaiti Al-Arabi in the first semi-final match of the AFC Challenge League.

The match, which took place in Kuwait City, ended with a score of 2:0 in favor of the home team. Christopher John (72nd minute) and Salman Al Awali (90+4) scored for the winners.

The return match will take place in Arkadag on April 16.

Recall that on the way to the semi-finals, the Turkmen club confidently overcame the quarter-final barrier, beating Indian East Bengal with a total score of 3:1. Al-Arabi made it to the semi-finals, beating Oman's Al-Seeb with a total score of 3:2.

The Turkmen football club Arkadag will play the first semi-final match of the AFC Challenge League against the local club Al-Arabi on April 9 in Kuwait City.

The teams have already met in the group stage of the current AFC Challenge League. The match, which took place on November 1, 2024 in Kuwait City, ended with a victory for the hosts with a score of 3:2.

On the way to the semi-finals, the Turkmen club confidently overcame the quarter-final barrier, beating the Indian East Bengal with a total score of 3:1. In the first meeting in Kolkata, Vladimir Bayramov's team won with a score of 1:0, and in the return match at the home stadium in the city of Arkadag, they won with a score of 2:1.

Al Arabi advanced to the semi-finals by beating Omani club Al Seeb 3-2 on aggregate.

The other East Zone semi-final will feature Preah Khan Rich Svay Rieng (Cambodia) and Madura United (Indonesia) on April 10.

The second leg of the Challenge League semi-finals will be held in Turkmenistan on April 16 and in Indonesia on April 17. The final of Asia's third-largest club tournament is scheduled for May 10, 2025.

Washington Capitals forward, Russian Alexander Ovechkin surpassed the legendary sniper record of Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky, scoring his 895th goal in the regular championships of the National Hockey League (NHL).

This happened in an away game with the New York Islanders on Sunday. Thus, Ovechkin set a new record.

The famous Canadian forward Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed The Great One, scored his last, 894th goal in the regular championships in 1999. For 26 years, no one could come close to his historical record, which was called “eternal”.

However, on April 5, 2025, Ovechkin managed to score the 894th puck and catch up with Gretzky in the number of goals in the regular championships of the NHL.

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov personally led a mass bike ride in Ashgabat, dedicated to World Health Day. The event started in the southern part of the capital, at the foot of the Kopetdag Mountains, where the Health Trail begins, and ended in the city center near the Ruhiyet Palace, TDH reports.

Members of the government, leaders of the Mejlis, representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as athletes, students and schoolchildren took part in the large-scale sports and health event.

During the bike ride, the head of state gave a number of instructions to the deputy chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, Deputy Prime Minister Tangryguly Atakhalliyev was instructed to ensure control over the implementation of the National Forestry Program, and Deputy Prime Minister Baimyrat Annamammedov was instructed to keep special control over the improvement and landscaping of the capital.

The route of the bike ride ran along the main avenues of white marble Ashgabat - Archabil and Bitarap Turkmenistan. Creative groups performed along the route, creating a festive atmosphere.

At the end of the event, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the need to further involve the population, especially young people, in regular sports and strengthen the principles of a healthy lifestyle in society.

Similar bike rides were held in the city of Arkadag and in all velayats of Turkmenistan. In addition, from April 1 to 7, various thematic events were organized throughout the country, including conferences, exhibitions, educational events and sports competitions.

On April 4, the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports held an international scientific and practical conference in digital format entitled "Sport is the Ambassador of Peace". The conference was actively attended by representatives of science and education, as well as sports from Uzbekistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Romania, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Belarus, Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Armenia, as well as specialists, teachers, scientists and coaches from Turkmenistan.

Within the framework of the conference in digital format, the heads, faculty of higher educational institutions of foreign countries, research institutions in the field of sports, specialists in the field of physical culture and sports, students, as well as representatives of the management of the International Association of Universities of Physical Culture and Sports and the Eurasian Association of Sports Sciences spoke.

Also, within the framework of the international conference in digital format, a master class "Inclusive Hockey" was held by the representative of the Federation of Adaptive Hockey of the Russian Federation Anton Politov. Then the master class continued under the theme "Sports for All", during which question-and-answer discussions, interactive meetings and training sessions were organized.

As part of the international conference and training events entitled "Sports - Ambassador of Peace", a special exhibition was organized reflecting the development of the sports sector, the achievements, innovative approaches in various areas of sports, as well as the activities of the scientific and methodological center "Olimp" of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports and scientific circles. This digital exhibition attracted the attention of foreign conference participants.

In addition, mass sports events entitled "Sports - Ambassador of Peace" were widely organized at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports in cooperation with the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Culture and Sports, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Central Council of the Youth Organization named after Makhtumkuli and the National Federation of Student Sports of Turkmenistan.