Inspiring Ashgabat tournaments demonstrate the level of Turkmen sportsmen for participation in V Asian Games

In the end of April, capital Olympic village hosted three Asian Championships – kickboxing, weightlifting and swimming. During the competitions, Turkmen sportsmen won 96 prizes – 30 gold, 32 silver and 34 bronze medals. In martial competition, our compatriots were on the first place by total medal count. 
300 kick boxers from 17 countries like the Republic of Korea, India, Malaysia, Jordan, Syria, Nepal, Iraq and other came to Ashgabat. Zohre Jumabayeva and Gulzada Jorakuliyeva from Turkmen team won gold twice in full contact and low kick disciplines. Totally, our team won 75 medals in kickboxing competitions and confidently headed tournament table in total medal count. 

Considerable part of these awards belongs to the fosters of Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan, Head Coach of National team Alexander Sangovsky – the founder of Turkmen kickboxing school. His apprentices achieve high results in different international competitions. 
The success of our fighters during current championship gives confidence that during V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in September of this year, they will demonstrate all their skills. 
Asian Weightlifting Championship gave good results also and brought 10 prizes – 1gold, 2 silver and seven bronze medals. Hojamuhammet Toychiyev won the gold in snatch discipline having lifted 197 weight. This achievement took him not only to the leaders in this discipline but also become new record of Turkmenistan, which exceeds for 7 kg the previous one made by the same sportsman during the World Championship Houston (USA) in 2015. 
Hojamuhammet also exceeded the record in clean and jerk, which is 427 kg now. This result brought bronze medal to Turkmen athlete in these competitions. Another bronze was won by our compatriot in jerk discipline where he lifted and fixed 230 kg weight. 
It is worth reminding that Turkmen weightlifters have not won gold medals in continental level tournaments since 1994. Back then, legendary sportsman, triple World Champion Altymurad Orazdurdiyev won the gold for our country during Asian Games in Hiroshima. And now, Master of Sports of International Class Hojamuhammed Toychiyev broke the pause after 20 years. 
Besides, during the current Asian Championship, two silver and one bronze medals was won by Rejepbay rejepov (up to 77 kg); Yulduz Jumabayeva (up to 48 kg) and Kristina Shermetova (up to 53 kg) won two bronze medals each. 
At present time, Turkmen weightlifters actively train for Islamic Solidarity Games in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku on May 12 – 22. It is worth mentioning that famous coach from Turkey Jafer Topcu trains our sportsmen. Such famous athletes as triple world champions and record holders as Naim Suleiman Ogly and Halil Mutlu were trained under his guide. 

Asian Swimming Championship that brought 2 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals was more successful for Turkmenistan team. The best result of our team was demonstrated by Merdan Atayev who added 2 gold and 2 silver medals to his collection. The foster of Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan Sergey Epifantsev became the leader in 50 and 100 m backstroke. M. Atatyev holds national record in 100m backstroke – 56.34 seconds, which he made during 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). 
By the results of two complex relay races where he competed together with Berdyguly Saparov, Ruslan Nazarov, Ilya Klyubchenko, Batyr Tachnyradov and Valentin Gorshkov, Merdan Atayev became the vice-champion. 
15-year old Darya Semenova was the winner of 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. Young and talented girl distinguished herself in breaststroke, free style, backstroke and two complex relays. Enesh Begmyradova brought another two bronze medals to collection of our team. 
Accomplished competitions defined not only the readiness level of Turkmen sportsmen to V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games but also tested sport grounds that would host complex competitions. The representatives of international sport organizations highly estimated organizational skills of Turkmen specialists including the work of volunteers.