A tournament of wrestlers in national wrestling «Yakalashma» was held in Ashgabat. This is one of the types of Turkmen wrestling «Turkmen goreshi».

The national championship in this sport, organized by the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports together with the «Goresh» National Wrestling Federation, was held in the cozy «Judo» Hall of the «Olymp» Secondary Sports School in the capital.

Athletes from all five velayats of Turkmenistan and Ashgabat, divided into different weight categories, were allowed to compete. In total, more than 120 athletes applied for participation.

Among the masters of «Yakalashma» there were both beginners and eminent athletes. For example, among the participants were well-known wrestlers - students of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, winners of the Asian Games Shatlyk Torayev and Aziza Kurbanova.

And, of course, the competition in all weight categories was the highest.

- Athletes, - notes the chief referee of the competition, Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan Dortguly Tejenov, - in addition to the fact that it was necessary to defeat the opponent, they also had to strictly observe all the rules of «yakalashma». The peculiarity of these rules is that «yakalashma» is a freestyle wrestling in a standing position without continuing on the mat. During the fight, the rules allow wrestlers-palvans to make a variety of captures for the «robe» (kimono), gushak (belt). One of the characteristic techniques of «yakalashma» is the capture of the opponent's «robe» (kimono) by the collar. Largely due to this, this national type of wrestling got its name (yaka - gate).

The wrestling technique, according to modern wrestling experts, is close in structure and character to the popular sambo wrestling. To win, each of the athletes must make the opponent touch the carpet.

There were periods of history when yakalashma was preserved only in remote villages. The «secrets» and subtleties of wrestling (goresh usullary, emeller), some recipes for «wrestling food» in families were passed down from generation to generation, and sometimes for many centuries. And today the «Yakalashma» wrestling is included in the official republican competition calendar.

At the end of the current competition, the General Secretary of the «Goresh» Wrestling Federation of the State Sports Committee of Turkmenistan, Ovez Atalyyev, announced the winners of the country's championship. They were: among men - in the weight category up to 60 kg. - Rovshen Abdyllayev, up to 66 kg. – Shamuhammet Gurbanov, 73 kg. - Shatlyk Jumaniyazov, 81 kg. - Dayanch Omirov, 90 kg. - Ishanmyrat Ataev, 100 kg. - Ruslan Eganberdiyev, over 100 kg. - Ruslan Esgerov.

Among women: 52 kg - Rozmengli Meymanova, 57 kg. - Narhal Hallyyeva, 63 kg. - Kamila Pardayeva, 70 kg. - Sabina Kadyrova, 78 kg. - Nurana Hezratova, 87 kg. - Jahan Muhammedova, over 87 kg. - Sabina Agajanova.

The best of the best wrestlers were awarded valuable gifts, certificates of honour and medals of various denominations.

Based on the results of the competition, the national team of Turkmenistan was formed to participate in international competitions.