The 34^th Turkmenistan football championship among top league clubs kicks off today with matches in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashy.

In the capital, «Ahal» and «Kopetdag» will play at the central arena of the multifunctional «Ashgabat» stadium, and in the coastal city of Turkmenbashy, «Shagadam» and «Nebitchi» will face off in the derby of Balkan.

The medals of the national championship will be contested by 8 teams, who will play against each other in four rounds. Three clubs – «Altyn Asyr», «Ashgabat» and «Kopetdag» – represent the capital. «Nebitchi» from Balkanabat and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashy are from the Balkan velayat, «Ahal» is from the Ahal velayat, «Merv» is from the Mary velayat, and the current champion of Turkmenistan, «Arkadag» is from the city of the same name of national significance.

The first round will continue on the 5^th of April with the matches «Arkadag» − «Merv» and «Altyn Asyr» − «Ashgabat».

The first two rounds of the championship will take place from the 4^th of April to 20^th of June. The second and third round matches will take place in the second half of the season.

Let us remind that following the results of championship of the last year, «Arkadag» became the champion of Turkmenistan for the third time. Silver medals went to «Ahal», and bronze to «Altyn Asyr».