26 medals - this is the result of the performance of sambo wrestlers of Turkmenistan at the Asian and Oceania championship held in Astana (Kazakhstan).

The competition brought together more than 600 athletes from 30 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, who competed for the title of the strongest in sports sambo among youths (not older than 18), juniors (not older than 20) and adults, as well as in combat sambo among juniors, juniors, men and women. Another feature of this tournament was that for the first time medals were played among blind and visually impaired athletes, who represented 11 countries of the Asian continent.

An additional incentive for the winners of the Asian and Oceania championship was the opportunity to qualify for the World Martial Arts Games, which will be held from October 21 to 30 in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

Turkmen athletes excelled both in the combat version of sambo and in the sports version among young men (not older than 18), men and women, having won a total of 3 gold, 7 silver and 16 bronze medals.

Juniors were the first to compete for awards in combat sambo. In this type of program, the gold medal in the team of Turkmenistan was won by Ismail Ataev (weight category up to 64 kg), who won in the final against Serik Shadiyar (Kazakhstan), and the bronze went to Kerim Kerimov (up to 58 kg) and Allanazar Orazmukhammedov (up to 79 kg).

In sports sambo among young men, bronze medals were awarded to Rustam Annamukhammedov (up to 98 kg) and Jamaludin Gurbanov (over 98 kg). It is noteworthy that Jamaludin won another bronze medal in the same heavy weight category among juniors.

In the men's tournament in sports sambo, the gold medal for the Turkmenistan team was won by Guvanch Begaliev (up to 98 kg), who defeated Ikhtiyor Eshmurodov (Uzbekistan) in the final. Silver medals were awarded to Begench Baltaev (up to 79 kg) and Dovlet Islamov (over 98 kg), and bronze medals went to Arslan Ismailov (up to 58 kg), Kakageldy Egenbaev (up to 71 kg). Another bronze was won by Batyr Khodjamukhammedov in the weight category over 88 kg, in which the selection for the World Martial Arts Games was held.

In the women's tournament, Jahan Mukhammedova (up to 80 kg) rose to the second step of the podium, and Aziza Nazarova (up to 50 kg), Dinara Ivadullayeva (up to 54 kg) and Madina Aydogdiyeva (up to 59 kg) went up to the third step.

In combat sambo for men, Novruz Ataev (up to 58 kg) and Muhammetniyaz Gurbandurdyev (up to 79 kg) achieved silver success, losing in the final respectively to Miras Ualiyev (Kazakhstan) and Furkat Ruziev (Uzbekistan). Bronze - David Avchyan (up to 71 kg), Mammetgurban Mammetgurbanov (up to 88 kg) and Babajan Ivadullayev (over 98 kg).

Among women in combat sambo, Maksuda Egemberdiyeva won gold. She achieved this success in the heavy weight category over 80 kg, in which three sambo wrestlers competed for medals. In the final, Maksuda defeated Zulfiya Mukhamedyarova (Kazakhstan) and climbed to the highest step of the podium. Silver medals were awarded to Aylar Melikova in the category up to 50 kg, in which two athletes competed, and Veronika Rus (up to 54 kg). In the final, Aylar lost to Zhadyra Payyz (Kazakhstan), and Vernika lost to Musharraf Ibodullayeva (Uzbekistan). Bronze medals were awarded to Violetta Krovyakova (up to 65 kg) and Jahan Mukhammedova (up to 80 kg).

At last year's Asian Championships in the Lebanese city of Jounieh, sambists of Turkmenistan won 22 medals (3 gold, 5 silver and 14 bronze) - four less than this year.