Young Turkmen chess player Lala Shovrayeva won a gold medal in rapid chess at the Asian Under-20 Youth and Junior Chess Championship held in Mumbai, India.

The continental championship, held from August 16 to 26, features competitions in classical chess, rapid, and blitz. According to the tournament organizers, 157 athletes from 10 countries are participating in the championship.

60 female chess players competed in the girls' rapid tournament. Along with Lala Shovrayeva, Turkmenistan was represented at the competition by Leyla Shovrayeva, Jahan Rejepova, and Mahri Agamyradova.

The rapid tournament consisted of 7 rounds, in which Lala Shovrayeva scored 6 points out of a possible 7. India's representative Pratitee Bordoloi showed the exact same result. However, tie-break criteria favored the Turkmen chess player, and the gold medal was awarded to Lala Shovrayeva.

The Turkmen athlete performed consistently throughout the tournament, securing crucial victories, especially in the final rounds. As a result, she took first place in rapid chess among Asia's strongest young chess players.

This is not the first medal for Lala Shovrayeva at this championship. She was also awarded a silver medal in the blitz event. Thus, the Turkmenistan representative currently holds one gold and one silver medal at the Asian Championship in Mumbai.

Lala Shovrayeva currently studies at the International University of Oil and Gas named after Yagshygeldi Kakayev. She is also one of the leading athletes in women's chess in Turkmenistan. At the beginning of 2026, she won the Turkmenistan Women's Championship in Ashgabat, once again claiming the national champion title.

The main classical chess tournament of the Asian Championship is also ongoing in Mumbai. In this category, winners will be determined following 9 rounds of the Swiss-system matches. The tournament also features battles for FIDE international titles.

The gold medal won by Lala Shovrayeva has become another testament to the international successes of Turkmenistan's youth chess.