Team Turkmenistan has secured its first bronze medal at the 3rd CIS Games in Azerbaijan. It was won in the boxing tournament by Hangeldi Lukmanov, an 11th-grade student at Ashgabat Secondary School № 52.
A year ago, this talented 16-year-old student of Nursahet Pazzyyev competed in the Asian Junior Boxing Championships and was considered a medal favourite at the CIS Games in Azerbaijan in the super flyweight (52 kg), his new weight class this year.
9 boxers entered the ring at the Yevlakh Olympic Centre in this weight class. In his first bout, Hangeldi Lukmanov won a unanimous decision against Kirill Leychanka of Belarus, 5-0. He then lost to Ali Abasli of Azerbaijan by the same score in the semifinals, settling for the bronze medal. Bekzod Ismoiljonov of Uzbekistan also took third place on the podium, joining the Turkmen athlete. Edige Nurgoja (Kazakhstan) won silver, and Ali Abasli (Azerbaijan) became the CIS Games champion.
The 3rd CIS Games are taking place at 12 sports venues in seven cities of Azerbaijan: Ganja, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Gabala, Sheki, Goygol, and Hangeldi. A total of 1,624 athletes under 23 years of age from 13 countries are competing for 246 medal events in 23 disciplines until the 8th of October.
Turkmenistan's sports delegation included 56 people, including 36 athletes representing 3x3 basketball, boxing, wrestling (freestyle and Greco-Roman), karate, swimming, shooting, and taekwondo.
One day before the closing ceremony of the 3rd CIS Games, Team Turkmenistan, with one bronze medal, tied with Pakistan and Turkey for 8th-10th place in the medal standings.
Two years ago, at the previous CIS Games in Belarus, Team Turkmenistan, represented by 79 athletes in 13 events, won 3 silver and 15 bronze medals.
turkmenistan.gov.tm
