The Turkmenistan national team has won its first medal at the 20th Summer Asian Games held in Nagoya, Japan. Karateka Dawut Nazmyradow, competing in the under-75 kg weight category, won the silver medal.

The 22-year-old athlete represents the city of Balkanabat. A total of 10 karatekas competed for medals in this weight category.

In the quarterfinals, Dawut Nazmyradow defeated Kyrgyzstan's representative Nazim Nurlanov 7:2. In the semifinals, the regular time of the bout against Syria's Fawaz Bani Al-Mardjeh ended in a scoreless draw. By decision of the judges, the victory was awarded to the Turkmenistan representative, advancing him to the final.

In the decisive match for the gold medal, Dawut Nazmyradow fought fiercely against Iran's Morteza Nemati, losing 3:4. Thus, the Turkmen karateka won the silver medal of the Asian Games.

Morteza Nemati won the gold medal in this weight category. Kazakhstan's representative Nurkanat Azhikanov and Syrian athlete Fawaz Bani Al-Mardjeh won the bronze medals.

Dawut Nazmyradow's international achievements

Dawut Nazmyradow made a name for himself in 2022 by winning the national championship among Turkmenistan karatekas aged 18–24. That same year, he won several medals among athletes under 21 at the Banzai International Cup in Berlin and the World Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

In 2024, the Turkmen karateka won a bronze medal among athletes under 21 at the Asian Youth Championship in Manila, Philippines. Also that year, he placed third at the senior Asian Championship in Hangzhou, China.

In addition, Nazmyradow achieved victories at the Uzbekistan Open in Urgench, Uzbekistan, and the Central Asian Championship in Samarkand.

The silver medal won in Nagoya is a continuation of the consistent performances of Turkmenistan's national karate school at the Asian Games. Three years earlier, at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Bayry Bayryyew won a bronze medal in the under-67 kg weight category.

Performances of other Turkmenistan athletes

At the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya, representatives of Turkmenistan are continuing their participation in several sports.

All five athletes on the Turkmenistan Wushu-Sanda team have completed their competition runs. Among them, Merjen Joraýewa achieved the best result. In the under-60 kg weight category, she defeated Nepal's Rita Takulla 2:0 in the Round of 16, but lost her quarterfinal match to Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy.

Bibimeryem Akmuhammedowa, Muhammet Jumamyradow, and Hezret Owezgeldiýew also exited the competition in the Round of 16. Bayrammyrat Annamaýadow lost his quarterfinal match to Indonesia's Gitar Bintang Reindra Nade.

Five athletes represent Turkmenistan in boxing at the Asian Games. Four of them completed their participation in the preliminary round. Bayramdurdy Nurmuhammedow, Dowlet Muhanow, Daniýar Rozmetow, and 19-year-old Abdyrahman Yklymow suffered defeats in their bouts.

From the Turkmenistan boxing team, Dowlet Islamow will face Kyrgyzstan's Myrzakyr Koshaliyev in the over-90 kg weight category on September 25.

Swimmers also continue their events

Turkmen swimmers Valeria Mirenskaya, David Akopyan, and Alan Mukhin, competing at the Asian Games for the first time, also tested their skills across several events.

19-year-old Valeria Mirenskaya placed 21st out of 23 athletes in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:43.30. In the 100m freestyle, she finished 29th out of 35 athletes with a time of 1:03.50, and in the 50m freestyle, she clocked 29.11 seconds to place 28th out of 35 participants.

David Akopyan finished 26th out of 36 swimmers in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:04.72. He also posted times of 56.26 seconds in the 100m butterfly and 24.89 seconds in the 50m butterfly.

15-year-old Alan Mukhin also participated in the 50m butterfly event, finishing 35th. Previously, he recorded times of 53.69 seconds in the 100m freestyle and 23.91 seconds in the 50m freestyle.

Alan Mukhin has completed his events at the Asian Games. Valeria Mirenskaya and David Akopyan will participate in the final stages of the competitions on September 25.

Ogulşat Amanowa places ninth in weightlifting

Four athletes represent Turkmenistan in weightlifting. Ogulşat Amanowa, a two-time world champion among girls under 17, was the first to take to the competition platform.

Competing in the under-53 kg weight category, the Turkmen athlete lifted 88 kg in the snatch and 103 kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 191 kg to finish ninth out of 13 athletes.

The gold medal in this weight category was won by North Korea's Kang Hyon Gyong with a total of 223 kg. China's Zhao Xinlan secured silver with 218 kg, and Thailand's Surodchana Khambao won bronze with 214 kg.

In the coming days, Turkmenistan's track and field representatives will also begin competing at the Asian Games in Nagoya. The first to take on the 100-meter event will be 26-year-old Lukman Gurbangurbandurdyýew and Valentina Meredowa, who participated in the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and Paris in 2024.

Valentina Meredowa will turn 42 on September 29. The Turkmenistan team's participation in the Asian Games continues.