Ashgabat Hosts Turkmenistan Hockey Championship Kickoff

Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: On January 10, the inauguration of the 2024 Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Championship marked the commencement of competitive fervor, with the inaugural match featuring a compelling face-off between teams “Shir” and “Merdana.” In a spirited display of skill and sportsmanship, the team representing the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations emerged triumphant with a decisive 3:0 victory. This auspicious start not only set the tone for the upcoming matches but also exemplified the commitment to excellence and competitive spirit characterizing the tournament, promising a season of thrilling encounters on the ice.

Meetings of the national championship are hosted by the ice arena of the Winter Sports Center “Galkan” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, inaugurated in 2014 with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

It is also planned to use the ice arenas of the National Olympic Sports Palace on Archabil Avenue and the Winter Sports Sports Complex at the intersection of Ataturk and Oguzhan streets to host the games.

The medals of the 9th hockey championship are contested by 6 teams – the eight-time champion of Turkmenistan “Galkan” – the Ministry of Internal Affairs, “Nesil” – the Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, “Shir” – the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, “Watancy” – the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense, “Oguzhan” – State Concern “Turkmengas” and “Merdana” – State Border Service.

Before the start of the tournament, the Hockey Federation of Turkmenistan held an extended meeting on organizational issues of the tournament. The preparation of national teams for the World Championship in the third division of Group “A”, which will be held from March 10 to 16 this year in Kyrgyzstan, and the World Championship among junior teams (U-18), which will be held in March of this year in South Africa, were also discussed.

As the head of the Hockey Federation, Jora Hudayberdiyev, noted in an interview with a Turkmenportal correspondent, with the assistance of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Education and Sports, Turkmen hockey players plan to hold the final stage of preparation for the world championships in Minsk at the Raubichi Olympic Complex.

Let us remind you that Turkmen hockey players were invited to training camps in Minsk by the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Kovalchuk, who arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit in June 2023.