President of Turkmenistan, President of National Olympic Committee of the country Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has visited the capital’s Olympic village where took part in the event on occasion of the honoring of Turkmen sportswoman Yulduz Jumabayeva – the winner of gold medals of the World Weightlifting Championship held in Ashgabat in November 2018.

Members of the Government and State Security Council, heads of ministries and profile departments, public organizations, mass media, directors of universities and Turkmen sportsmen took part in the ceremony, which was held in the Martial Arts Complex of the Olympic village. Representatives of diplomatic corps have also attended the ceremony.

Greeting the participants of the event, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that current event is a remarkable date for Turkmen sports and for entire country. We have gathered to award sportswoman of national team Yulduz Jumabayeva who was recognized as the champion among sportswomen in the weight category up to 45 kg by the World Weightlifting Federation.

In this regard, the head of the state highlighted that Y. Jumabayeva has been awarded with two gold medals in the competitions and beat the world record in this sport.

This outstanding victory is quite fair, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued. It is a result of unprecedented government policy, which is aimed at development of physical culture and country, propaganda of the principles of healthy life style and attraction of people to regular sport exercises.

Today, Turkmenistan is one of the states with high rates of sport development. We implement high goals, which put in the foundation of the Olympic movement. Their meaning and content is to turn sports into heritage of entire nation, to give people health, happiness and confidence in future, the leader of the nation said.

Development of international cooperation is an important vector of the state policy of Turkmenistan in sport sphere. In the last years, our country has become a place of organization of big international competitions, the head of the state highlighted. V Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games as well as Amul – Hazar International Rally and the World Weightlifting Championship in 2018 are among important historical events.

These competitions have demonstrated that independent Turkmenistan is able to prepare to large-scale and important sport events and to hold them on high level. In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has expressed firm confidence that the World Track Cycling Championship and the round of the Davis Cup International Tennis Tournament in the IV group of Asia and Oceania Zone this year as well as the World Sambo Championship in 2022 would be held on proper organizational level.

Addressing the participants, the President noted that there are many good pages in the history of national sports. Speaking of this, the head of Turkmenistan has called famous weightlifter, triple world and European champion, champion of Asia Altymyrat Orazdurdiyev and outstanding, the most famous sportsman of his time and silver winner of the Olympic Games, multiple World and Europe record holder in target shooting Marat Niyazov as bright examples.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that we are proud that today, the traditions of Turkmen sports are developed. Our young athletes deservingly continue the victorious way of elder generation.

Yulduz Jumabaeyva, who won gold medals, is one of them. This significant prize, which she won in the competitions, visually demonstrates confident promotion of Turkmenistan in the world sport arena. The winner of this high prize is a beautiful representative of our youth, she is committed, determined and devoted to the Motherland, who will put all efforts to win, the head of the state noted.

We are entitled to be proud of the victory of Yulduz Jumabayeva. This victory is a big achievement of our people, a bright evidence of the efficiency of the government policy of Turkmenistan in development of physical culture and sports, the President highlighted.

Further, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmen people have made tangible and intangible heritages throughout the centuries. In this context, the head of the state noted that restoration and wide popularization of primordial traditions of sport competitions is an important direction of development of our rich historical and cultural heritage.

The President continued that undoubtedly, the unique ahalteke horses are integral part of national heritage. It would not be exaggeration to say that they have become a symbol of our state and pride of Turkmen people. At present time, all necessary conditions are made in Turkmenistan for development of horse breeding, new equestrian complexes have been built, races attended by numerous visitors are held regularly.

We also develop other competitions and traditions left by our ancestors. These are falcon and hound hunting, belt wrestling, ancient carpet making and jewelry arts, original songs and dances, beautiful national dress. In general, care of restoration and preservation of unique historical and cultural heritage is taken on the government level in the country, the President stressed.

Bringing these glorious traditions to our days, we have preserved historical succession. This is an inexhaustible power, which unites our society and inspires brave people for great achievements, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

Our state will continue paying special attention to physical culture and sports as to priority vectors of the policy, investing necessary resources for development of the system of sport provision, methodology, professional development of coaches, masters and specialists. The leader of the nation has emphasized that these works would be carried out based on the achieved results, the best world practice and modern science.

Continuing the subject, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has expressed firm confidence that Turkmenistan would have many champions who would glorify the Motherland and enhance the prestige of the world sports.

Having congratulated Yulduz Jumabayeva on her high achievement in the World Weightlifting Championship, the President wished that the state flag of neutral Turkmenistan fly high at international sport competitions.

Further, President of Turkmenistan, President of National Olympic Committee of the country Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has presented gold medals of the World Weightlifting Championship, which was held in Ashgabat in 2018, to Yulduz Jumabayeva in ceremonial atmosphere.

The national anthem of Turkmenistan has been played and the flag of Turkmenistan has been hoisted up to the dome of hall under solemn melody.

Continuing the ceremony, the floor was given to President of International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Dr. Michael Irani who addressed the participants of the event via conference call.

Having expressed gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for steadfast efforts for development of various sports, including the weightlifting, in Turkmenistan, the head of the IWF wished further success in international competitions to Turkmen sportsmen.

The President of IWF has highlighted that International Weightlifting Federation together with International Investigation Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency puts big efforts for combating doping to keep the sports clear and fair. At the same time, it was noted that IWF welcomes active position of Turkmenistan in this direction.

Mr Michael Irani has said that Turkmen sportsmen won and was awarded with prizes at various competitions in the result of the policy in sport sphere pursued by the President of Turkmenistan. The fact that representative of our country, Yulduz Jumabayeva has beaten the world record in weightlifting among the juniors and won gold medals at the World Weightlifting Championship in Ashgabat in 2018 is a visual result of active work of the head of the state for development of the weightlifting.

Having expressed gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for organization of the award ceremony of Turkmen sportswoman with deserved prize and for the opportunity to take part in the ceremony in video conference format, Mr. Michael Irani wished further success in development of the weightlifting to the head of Turkmenistan.

Further, the floor was given to the Secretary General of International Weightlifting Federation, the First Vice President of Asian Weightlifting Federation Mohammed Jaludu, who has also addressed the participants via video conference call.

Having expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for organization of the ceremony and opportunity to take part in it in video conference format, Mr. Mohammed Jalud also thanked the head of the state for the efforts on effective development of this sports.

It was mentioned that sportswoman, who won gold medal in this weight category, has been deprived from this award because of undue compliance with ethical principles of sport movement at the World Weightlifting Championship in Ashgabat in 2018. Therefore, Turkmen sportswoman Yulduz Jumabayeva has become a winner of two gold medals and set the world record.

Taking the opportunity, Mr. Mohammed Jalud has congratulated Yulduz Jumabayeva on high prize of the world tournament.

Making his final speech, Turkmen leader has noted that great success achieved by our sportsmen is a true national heritage, which would be written in the history of our Motherland in golden letters. These achievements are also an example for thousands of boys and girls who would dedicated their life to sports.

When green flag of our Motherland is flying high at the sport grounds of the world level, we, the citizens of Turkmenistan, wherever we are, feel ourselves as members of one consolidated family, which deserving representatives brings honor and glory, authority and respect to our country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted.

Covering the obstacles, true champions achieve high results in any circumstances. This is a victory that Yulduz Jumabaeyva won. Having congratulated the sportswoman again on high prize, Turkmen leader addressed all athletes and their coaches with gratitude for the efforts and will demonstrated for the victory.

The head of the state has also expressed gratitude to President of IWF, Dr. Michael Irani for his personal contribution to development of the weightlifting in the world and for fair sport policy.

Having also expressed gratitude to Secretary General of IWF Mohammed Jalud for the participation in the current event, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made his best wishes to the address of the management of International Weightlifting Federation.

Finishing the ceremony, the President has emphasized that citizens of the country are its greatest value. Therefore, having taken the goal to develop and promote the principles of healthy life style, physical training and sport in near and long term perspective, Turkmenistan demonstrates an example of successful move forward.

Having expressed sincere gratitude to all for participation in current event, the head of the state said goodbye to the participants and left the place of event.