Alp Arslan Begenjow, a member of Turkmenistan’s national freestyle wrestling team, won his first bout at the XX Summer Asian Games being held in Nagoya, Japan.

On October 2, the 20-year-old Turkmen wrestler competed in the up-to-86 kg weight category. In his round-of-16 bout held at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center, he faced China’s representative Hade Aidushi.

Alp Arslan Begenjow won the bout 5–1 on points and advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition.

In the next round, the Turkmen wrestler will face Mongolia’s representative Suldhu Olonbayar.

International Master of Sport Alp Arslan Begenjow has emerged in recent years as one of the young Turkmen athletes achieving success in freestyle wrestling. In 2024, at the U20 World Championships held in Pontevedra, Spain, he won the gold medal in the up-to-86 kg weight category, securing Turkmenistan’s first gold medal at a high-level world championship in this Olympic sport.

In 2025, at the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, he reached the quarterfinals. More recently, at the World Championships for wrestlers under 20 held in Bratislava, Alp Arslan Begenjow also won a bronze medal in the up-to-86 kg weight category.

The XX Summer Asian Games are being held in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. A total of 57 people represent Turkmenistan’s delegation at this major sporting event, including 34 athletes competing in 8 sports.

Alp Arslan Begenjow’s next bout will take place in the quarterfinal stage.