Olympians as Pazzyyev and Achilov advanced to the finals of the Turkmenistan National Championships

The semi-finals were held in the third competition day of the Turkmenistan National Championships in Ashgabat. President of the Asian Boxing Confederation and AIBA Vice-President Mr. Serik Konakbayev followed the bouts from the venue on Day3 as well. Turkmenistan’s previous Olympians as Nursahat Pazzyyev and Arslanbek Achilov both advanced to the finals of the event.
The Turkmenistan Elite National Championships is holding for their talents in the capital city in Ashgabat which hosted the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games last September. The President of the Turkmenistan Boxing Federation Mr. Alen Shyhyyev invited Mr. Serik Konakbayev and Russian boxing stars as Dennis Lebedev, Oleg Saitov and Oleg Taktarov in to the Turkmenistan National Boxing Championships.
Turkmenistan started to develop women boxing once again after a short break and following their National Cup the female part of our sport introduced in their National Championships as well. Altogether fifteen women boxers are competing in their National Championships in Ashgabat and trying to raise their number of bouts.
Lebap’s Shakhrizada Merdanova defeated Dashoguz’s Gulhumar Atabayeva in the semi-final of the women’s light flyweight (48kg) and will now meet with Gulsat Polatova of Ashgabat in the final. Lebap’s Selbi Kuvuseva who defeated Ashgabat’s Alyona Durova at the bantamweight (54kg) on Day 2 continued her winning path and eliminated Govher Hamrayeva of Lebap by RSC in the semi-final.
Dzhabbar Meyliyev lost to National Champion Dayanch Annaseidov in the final of the Turkmenistan National Cup in November but the younger hope did revenge this time. Meyliyev prepared well against his opponent and he was able to win their re-match by 3:2 and will be boxing for the title of the men’s light flyweight (49kg) with Begench Annageldiyev.
Islamic Solidarity Games silver medallist Yakub Meredov of Ashgabat is the top favourite of the bantamweight (56kg) who shocked his four years younger rival Bayramkhan Permanov in the quarter-final and defeated also Zarip Achilov of Lebap region. The 24-year-old boxer, who is member of the national team since 2009, will now face for the title with Begench Alymov in Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan’s Hursand Imankuliyev is member of the national team since 2012 when he was still a junior boxer and he was quickly adopted the level of the elite athletes also since 2015. The 21-year-old boxer eliminated former National Cup winner Shokhrat Jumayev and he was able to control his next fight against Begmurat Halmuradov in the semi-final. Imankuliyev will be boxing for the gold medal with his main national rival Yazmyrat Gurbanov of Ashgabat in the final of the lightweight (60kg).
ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Muhammet Berdibayev of Ashgabat defeated top rivals during his road to the semi-final of the light welterweight (64kg). The 20-year-old boxer eliminated Shokhrat Durdiyev in the last four and kept his golden chance alive before his final against defending National Cup winner young Togrulbeg Pazzyyev.
ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Muhammetmyrat Sahedov won their National Championships and National Cup in the recent one year but the 20-year-old boxer was shocked by ASBC Asian Confederation Elite Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Timur Tajimov in the semi-final of the welterweight (69kg). Tajimov won their top contest by 4:1 and will now meet for the title with Serdar Amangeldiyev.
Azizbek Achilov competed in all of the main international events excluding the Olympic Games therefore he was able to handle his tactical job against veteran Rasul Yuldashev in the semi-final of the middleweight (75kg) in Ashgabat. The experienced boxer will now face with his main national rival London 2012 Olympic Games competitor Nursahat Pazzyyev who returned last year after a long break.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Nuryagdy Nuryagdyyev will be turning to 20 only later this year but he is one of the most promising light heavyweight (81kg) boxer in the whole Asian continent. The teenage talent stopped Yazmuhammet Orazov in the semi-final which means he needs only one more step to be crowned in the national event where he will now face with Ustabek Samandarov.
Arslanbek Achilov is the defending champion at the Islamic Solidarity Games who moved up to the heavyweight (91kg) in the recent months to show his skills and strength in a higher category. The Rio 2016 Olympian had to spend only a short time in the ring as his opponent’s ringside Meylis Esmiyev’s coaches abandoned their fight. Achilov will be boxing for the title with Lebap’s Shokhrat Hojanepesov who had a narrow semi-final against Armen Pogosyan.
Ashgabat’s Baky Toychiyev was involved to the elite national team of Turkmenistan in 2017 and attended in the Islamic Solidarity Games. The 20-year-old super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer was too quick for National Cup winner Shokhrat Pirimanov in the semi-final which was an early final in the Turkmenistan National Cup. Toychiyev needs only one final step to regain his place in the top of the podium but Atajan Nurgeldiyev will be a strong opponent.