26 medals — three gold, seven silver and 16 bronze — were won by Turkmen athletes at the Asian and Oceania Sambo Championship held in Astana from June 5 to 11. This was reported to the ORIENT correspondent in the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of the country.

Ismail Atayev (in the weight category up to 64 kg), Guvanch Begaliyev (up to 88 kg) and Maksuda Egemberdiyeva (+80 kg) rose to the highest step of the podium.

Novruz Atayev (up to 58 kg), Muhammetniyaz Gurbandurdyyev (up to 79 kg), Begench Baltayev (up to 79 kg), Dovlet Islamov (+98 kg), Aylar Melikova (up to 50 kg), Veronika Rus (up to 54 kg), Jahan Muhammedova (up to 80 kg) were awarded silver medals.

Bronze medals were brought to the treasury of the Turkmen national team by: Kerim Kerimov (up to 58 kg), Arslan Ismailov (up to 58 kg), Allanazar Orazmuhammedov (up to 71 kg), Kakageldy Egenbayev (up to 71 kg), David Avchyan (up to 71 kg), Rustam Annamuhammedov (up to 98 kg), Mammedgurban Mammedgurbanov (up to 88 kg), Batyr Hojamuhammedov (+88 kg), Babajan Ivadullayev (+98 kg). Jamaludin Gurbanov scored a bronze double in the weight category over 98 kg.

The bronze medal winners in the women's category were: Aziza Nazarova (up to 50 kg), Dinara Ivadullayeva (up to 54 kg), Madina Aydogdyyeva (up to 59 kg), Violetta Krovyakova (up to 65 kg), Jahan Muhammedova (up to 80 kg).

The Asian and Oceania Championships brought together about three hundred athletes from 30 countries.

The tournament was the qualifying stage for the World Martial Arts Games, which will be held in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh from October 21 to 30, 2023. The next continental championship will be held in 2025 in Tashkent.

Artur PETROSYANTS