Post by : Shakul
Turkmenistan’s U16 tennis squad has left for Kazakhstan, gearing up for the pivotal qualification round of the Junior Davis Cup 2026. This key tournament will take place in Shymkent from May 18 to May 23 and will host 16 elite junior teams from Asia and Oceania.
The team earned its spot in this prestigious round by showcasing extraordinary talent during the preliminary qualifying event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking one of the finest showings by a Turkmen junior team on an international stage.
The Colombo tournament was conducted under the oversight of both the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation. It saw participation from 15 national teams, with Turkmenistan entering as the sixth seed.
The roster features Suleyman Hudayberdiyev from Specialized Secondary School No. 86 in Ashgabat, Ali Geldiyev from Young Olympians Training School, and Kerimgeldi Guldurdyyev from the A.S. Pushkin Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary Comprehensive School. The training is overseen by coach Gurbanberdi Gurbanberdiyev, a bronze medalist from the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup.
In Colombo, the Turkmen team topped Group B, triumphing over Oman 3-0 and achieving two comeback victories against Myanmar and Singapore, both ending 2-1. They later beat the Philippines 2-0 in the quarterfinals, marking a historic top-four finish for Turkmenistan in the tournament.
The final qualification event in Shymkent will feature tough competition from teams representing Australia, Japan, China, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. Only four squads will secure a spot in the ultimate Junior Davis Cup stage.
Tournament officials are preparing for the official draw to be conducted shortly before the event kicks off. The Turkmen players are now bracing themselves for one of the most significant tests of their budding sporting careers against formidable junior tennis contenders across Asia.
Established in 1985 as the Junior World Cup for boys under 16, the Junior Davis Cup was renamed in 2002. It has become one of the most distinguished junior tennis tournaments globally, serving as a launchpad for the stars of tomorrow.
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