Turkmen weightlifters - on the way to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020
From January 7 to February 2, weightlifters of the national team of Turkmenistan undergo training camps in the Avaza national tourist zone. Trainings are organized in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
For a trip to Tokyo, Turkmen athletes need to compete in six major competitions - two world championships, two Asian championships and as many international tournaments. If the performances are successful, they are among the eight strongest weightlifters of the world in each weight category automatically go to the Olympics.
Immediately, four representatives of the Turkmen team have high chances to represent the country at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020: Rejepbai Rejepov is the fourth in the world in the weight category of 81 kg, Yulduz Jumabayeva (49 kg) and Hodjamuhammet Toychiev (+109 kg), ranking sixth, and also Kristina Shermetova (55 kg), located on the eighth position in the world ranking of applicants.
Two major tournaments of 2018 are already behind the weightlifters from Turkmenistan - the World Championships in Ashgabat in November and the 5th Qatar International Cup in Doha in December. Then the team plans to take part in the Asian Championship in China (Ningbo).
According to the rules from each country, eight athletes will be able to take part in the Olympics - four men and four women. Therefore, in addition to these weightlifters, Ovez Ovezov, Maksat Meredov, Aisoltan Toichieva and Gulnabat Kadyrova can also compete for extra points and a ticket to Tokyo. To accumulate points, they will compete in silver tournaments - in the February Cup of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) in China (Fuzhou) and the March 4th International Fajr Cup in Iran (Ahwaz).
It should be noted that the number of Turkmen judges serving international weightlifting competitions is increasing. For example, one of the technical representatives at the 4th International Fajr Cup in Iran will be the Turkmenian Sapa Sapaev.
