Sports
Stars of the Basketball Court: "Lebap" Team Becomes the Champion of Turkmenistan
April 23, 2026 09:47 • UTC+5 (Ashgabat) • 15 views

The Lebap team became champions of the U18 Basketball Championship of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat took second place, Balkan finished third. The tournament highlighted strong youth sports potential.
Exciting competitions among the country's young basketball players continue in the capital city of Ashgabat. The Turkmenistan Championship for boys and girls under 18 (U18), held since April 15 at the sports complex of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, has generated great interest among sports fans.
Winners Among Boys Determined The competitions among the boys' teams, conducted under a round-robin system, were full of intense and exciting moments. According to the results of the tournament:
- 1st Place (Gold Medal): Demonstrating technically advanced and cohesive gameplay, the "Lebap" team earned the title of champion.
- 2nd Place (Silver Medal): Taken by the players of the "Ashgabat" team, representing the capital.
- 3rd Place (Bronze Medal): Awarded to the basketball players of the "Balkan" team.
One of the most vibrant moments of the competition was the ceremony honoring athletes who excelled in individual categories. Shakir Sunnetov, playing with jersey number 10 for the "Lebap" team, was declared the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his displayed mastery and significant contribution to his team's victory. The young athlete was presented with a special prize by the organizers.
Although the winners among the boys have been identified, the basketball event is not yet over. Currently, the competitive matches among the girls' teams are continuing in full swing.
This championship has once again proven the vast potential for youth sports in the provinces of the country. Such competitions serve as an important stage in developing skilled basketball players for our national teams in the future.