The national team of Turkmenistan for the first time took part in the World Cup among schoolchildren born in 2007–2008, held in the city of Dalian (PRC). The newspaper “Neutral Turkmenistan” reports this.

56 teams from 33 countries took part in the tournament. The Turkmenistan national team played in the group stage with the teams of Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Uganda.

Turkmen football players under the leadership of Bayramdurdy Meredov and Eziz Annamuhammedov won victories over the teams of Brazil (3:0) and Mexico (2:0). The goals in these matches were scored by Muhammadali Durdyev, Timur Jalilov, Orazguly Orazgulyev (twice), Berdimyrat Danatarov. Goalkeeper Davut Davatov and forwards Omar Datdov and Begench Vepalyev demonstrated an excellent game.

Unfortunately, in the matches with Germany and Uganda, the Turkmen football players suffered defeats and were unable to advance to the next round.

The organizers of the competition also provided a cultural program, which included an exhibition of national achievements, excursions, and musical performances.

“By the way, during the exhibition our stand was one of the most visited, since our schoolchildren prepared many gifts for visitors - tahya, badges, magnets and much more, which were so willingly taken by local sports fans and guests from other countries”, - notes the source.

The opening match of the World Cup among schoolchildren was served as the chief referee by the Turkmen referee, international judge Charymurat Kurbanov, who completed his professional career last spring.

During the tournament, the Chairman of the School Sports Federation of Turkmenistan Movlyam Durdyev and the Head of the Department of International Relations of the national sports organization Serdar Shihiyev, within the framework of the 18th Assembly of the Asian School Sports Federation (ASSF), held a meeting with the President of this organization Liu Lixin and the President of the International School Sports Federation (ISF) Laurent Petrinko, discussing further cooperation in the relevant field.

Thus, Turkmen schoolchildren were officially invited to take part in the Gymnasiada (summer school games), which will be held in October this year in Bahrain. The program of these games includes 25 sports.

Currently, representatives of the School Sports Federation of Turkmenistan, together with the State Committee for Physical Education and Sports, are agreeing on which sports Turkmenistan will perform at the Gymnasiada. And in December, China will host the Asian 3x3 basketball championship among schoolchildren, where the national team of schoolchildren of Turkmenistan is also planned to participate.

For reference, the School Sports Federation of Turkmenistan was opened in 2021. In the same year, she became a full member of the Asian and International School Sports Federations.

The national sports organization includes more than 1700 general education institutions from all velayats and Ashgabat, which acquire professional skills in teaching more than 40 sports. The Federation works closely with the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Education and Sports, the Main Directorate for Physical Education and Sports of the city of Ashgabat and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.