From 5 to 20 July, Samarkand is hosting a large-scale training camp for traditional karate, where the Turkmen national team is honing its skills. This event has become an important platform for the professional growth of athletes, allowing them to learn from the experience of foreign karate practitioners and master modern training methods. This was reported by IIC. The organisers consider the Samarkand training camp to be a significant step in the development of traditional karate in the Central Asian region. The participation of Turkmen karate practitioners in this event not only contributes to improving their sporting level, but also strengthens international ties in the field of martial arts. The coaching staff notes the special value of such training camps for preparing the younger generation of karate practitioners. Intensive training and the exchange of experience with colleagues from other countries help Turkmen athletes reach a new level of skill ahead of upcoming competitions.
Turkmen athletes continue to perform well at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana. On the fourth day of the competition, the Turkmenistan national team added new awards to its collection. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. Anamjan Rustamova won gold and silver among junior women in the 86 kg category, demonstrating a total result of 245 kg (105 kg in the snatch and 140 kg in the clean and jerk). Medina Amanova won three bronze medals in the 63 kg category with a total result of 198 kg (88 kg in the snatch and 110 kg in the clean and jerk). Among juniors in the 79 kg category, Didarbek Jumabayev won three silver medals with a result of 312 kg (138 kg in the snatch and 174 kg in the clean and jerk). These successes highlight the high level of training of Turkmen weightlifters and strengthen the country's position in international sport.
Turkmen athletes won six medals, one silver and five bronze, at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. In the weight category up to 71 kg, Kakamyrat Annamyradov won silver in the combined event (288 kg) and two bronzes in individual exercises (snatch - 128 kg, clean and jerk - 160 kg). In the 53 kg category, Ogulshat Amanova won bronze in the total (174 kg), as well as two small bronze medals for the snatch (78 kg) and clean and jerk (96 kg). After the first three days, Turkmenistan ranks sixth in the overall medal standings.
From 2 to 7 July, China hosted the 2nd Junior Asian Cup, which brought together the continent's strongest young athletes. Six athletes from Turkmenistan took part in the tournament, demonstrating a high level of training. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. As a result, the team won six medals — two gold and four silver — confirming its competitiveness on the international stage. These successes reflect the coordinated work of coaches and the effectiveness of the youth sports development system in the country. Participation in the tournament gave young athletes valuable experience and the opportunity to compete with the best representatives of Asia, strengthening their readiness for future competitions.
From 5 to 29 July 2025, Batumi (Georgia) will host the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup, which will feature 107 of the world's strongest female chess players. For the first time in the history of the tournament, a representative of Turkmenistan will compete for victory — 19-year-old FIDE Master Lala Shohradova (rating 2135). Her participation was made possible by the triumph of the Turkmenistan women's team at the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, where the team took first place in category C. This was reported by IIC. The tournament is held according to the Olympic system, where in each round the participants play two classical games with a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move after the 40th move. In case of a draw, a tie-break is held in rapid and blitz formats. In the first round, Shohradova will face international master and women's grandmaster Vantika Agrawal (rating 2388) from India. The matches are broadcast on lichess.org, and the results are published in real time on chess-results.com. The FIDE Women's World Cup is a prestigious tournament that also serves as a qualifier for the Candidates Tournament. In 2025, the Men's World Cup will take place from 31 October to 27 November, where Turkmenistan will be represented by international grandmaster Saparmyrat Atabayev.
Turkmen Greco-Roman wrestler Jeyhun Hakberdiyev won bronze at the Asian U-15 Championships held in Bishkek. In the match for third place in the 52 kg category, he defeated India's Shivanand Yadav with a score of 3:1. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The gold medal in this weight category was won by Kazakh athlete Samga Yermek, who defeated Uzbekistan's Samandar Madaminov (4:0) in the final. The second bronze medal went to Chong Rui LI from Chinese Taipei. A total of seven Turkmen wrestlers are participating in the tournament: in freestyle wrestling — Hemra Halmyradov, Meret Durdyev, Kemal Charyev and Muhammetaly Parahadov; in Greco-Roman wrestling: Jeyhun Hakberdiyev, Islam Abdullayev and Annagylych Orazgylyjov.
The 17th World Chess Olympiad for blind and visually impaired athletes has concluded in the Serbian city of Vrnjačka Banja, where Turkmen chess player Aydogdy Atabayev, FIDE Master candidate, won a bronze medal, becoming the first representative of Turkmenistan to climb the podium at this prestigious competition. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Atabayev demonstrated brilliant play, scoring 6 points out of a possible 7. He has five wins and two draws in tense games to his credit. His tournament performance (2353) was particularly impressive, allowing him to outperform many titled opponents from Germany, France and other countries. Only two grandmasters, representing Poland and Spain, finished ahead of him. The Olympiad, organised by the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), brought together 22 teams from around the world. The tournament was held according to strict FIDE standards, which emphasises the high level of competition. Founded in 1958, the IBCA continues to develop inclusive chess, creating opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes. Atabayev's medal is not only a personal achievement but also an important step in promoting chess among people with disabilities in Turkmenistan.
The Asian Judo Cup for cadets and juniors has come to an end in Kazakhstan, where Turkmen athlete Kakilik Deryayeva achieved her first major success on the international stage. In a tough fight, the 15-year-old judoka won a bronze medal in the weight category up to 48 kg, where 25 participants from five countries competed. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. On her way to the podium, Deryayeva demonstrated excellent technique, winning four victories. In the first two fights, she defeated her opponents from Uzbekistan and Mongolia ahead of schedule, and after losing in the quarter-finals, she was able to take revenge in the consolation bouts. In the decisive match for third place, Kakilik confidently defeated the representative of Kazakhstan. Kakilik Deryayeva has been practising judo since 2019 and trains under the guidance of Gulbadam Babamuratova and the head coach of the Turkmenistan women's team, Tatyana Vidyasova. This tournament was an important milestone in her sporting career. The Asian Cup in Almaty brought together 788 participants from 11 countries.
On 3 July, the draw for the group stage of the «CAFA Nations Cup-2025» football tournament took place. The Turkmenistan national team was placed in Group A alongside Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Oman. This was reported by the press service of the Turkmenistan Football Federation. Group B will include Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Malaysia. The tournament will take place from 29 August to 8 September: Group A matches will be hosted by Tashkent, and Group B matches will be hosted by Dushanbe. Turkmenistan will start the tournament on 30 August with a match against Kyrgyzstan, then play Uzbekistan on 2 September and Oman on 5 September. The winners of each group will advance to the final, while the runners-up will compete for third place. Both decisive matches will take place on 8 September.
A young athlete from Ashgabat, Aslan Agadadayev, won bronze at the Asian Championship among youths under 17, which took place in Vung Tau, Vietnam. In the weight category up to 110 kg, the eleventh grader from the Turkmen-Turkish school showed his character: after losing to Indian wrestler Hardip (1:5), he defeated Kyrgyzstan's Umar Ormanov in the battle for third place. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. This achievement became the fifth medal for the Turkmen team at the current Asian competition. Earlier, other representatives of the country also achieved success: Alp Arslan Begenjov (silver, freestyle wrestling up to 79 kg), Vatan Annaorazov (bronze, freestyle wrestling up to 74 kg), Soltan Sanjar Begenjov (bronze, freestyle wrestling up to 86 kg) and Didar Orazberdiyev (bronze, Greco-Roman wrestling up to 72 kg). The tournament confirmed the growing skill of Turkmen wrestlers on the international stage.
Young athletes showed outstanding results at the XV International Children's Tournament ‘Happy Caravan 2025’, demonstrating skill and determination to win. The Turkmenistan team consisted of 33 gymnasts who, under the guidance of coach Fiza Ayvazova and her assistants, brought home 17 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals. This was reported by the IIC. The students of Rabiga Hudayberdiyeva distinguished themselves, winning prizes in the hoop, ball and clubs disciplines. According to the coach, participation in the tournament helped the girls gain valuable competitive experience and strengthen their psychological resilience. The competition brought together young gymnasts from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and India. The tournament ended with a solemn award ceremony for the winners.
From 18 to 28 June 2025, the capital of Uzbekistan hosted the II International Chess Tournament ‘UzChess Cup-2025’, which brought together the strongest players from around the world. The competition was held in three categories: ‘Masters’, ‘Challengers’ and ‘Futures’ (promising players). This was reported by IIC. A highlight of the tournament was the performance of the representative of Turkmenistan, Saparmyrat Atabayev. The young chess player, competing in the ‘Futures’ category, showed brilliant play and won a convincing victory, passing all rounds without defeat. His sporting skill was noted by the organisers - Atabayev was awarded the main cup of the tournament and a cash prize. This victory is particularly significant due to the decision of the organising committee to allow the Turkmen athlete to compete in the more prestigious Challengers category in future competitions. This opens up new prospects for his professional growth and participation in high-level tournaments. Saparmyrat Atabayev's achievement is further proof of the effectiveness of Turkmenistan's state policy of supporting young talent and developing chess. The success of the Turkmen chess player contributes to strengthening the country's international authority in the field of sport.