Ilima Huseynova, an eighth-grade student of Ashgabat Specialized Secondary School No. 42, climbed to the top of the podium four times at the recently held Turkmenistan Tennis Championship among boys and girls U14 and U18.

For five days, about 150 young tennis players from the capital and velayats of the country fought for the title of the strongest in singles and doubles at the courts of the multifunctional stadium "Ashgabat".

Ilima first won the singles in both age categories. In the U14 group, she gave up only two games to Sahra Garahanova, a fifth-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 90, in the final - 6:2, 6:0, and in the competition of tennis players U18, she confirmed the class of Turkmenistan's number one player, confidently beating the current national champion Aisha Bikbulatova, an 11th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 50, (6:4, 6:2).

The bronze medalists were: Aynur Annamyradova (U14) and Maria Atamyradova (U18). In the 3rd place match, A. Annamyradova won against the second-seeded Anna Ponyatova - 6:4, 6:2, while M. Atamyradova outplayed the fifth-seeded Jennet Charyeva in a three-set match - 2:6, 7:5, 10:6.

In doubles, I. Huseynova also proved her worth, winning two more golds in the age categories U14 and U18. In the younger group, Ilima achieved this success together with Leyli Esenova, an 8th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 135, and in the older group - in a duet with Maria Atamyradova, a 10th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 12. In the first final, I. Huseynova and L. Esenova won against A. Annamyradova and D. Orazalieva - 6:4, 7:5, and in the second, I. Huseynova and M. Atamyradova were stronger than A. Annamyradova and D. Charyeva - 6:4, 6:4.

Ilima Huseynova is among the top four tennis players in Asia under 14 years old. She perfects her skills at the Ashgabat Tennis Academy under the guidance of Mirali Gasanov, head coach of the Turkmenistan national team. Leyli Esenova trains tennis with coach Nelly Voynich, and Maria Atamyradova trains with Yevgeny Molchanov.

Among the boys, Selim Chagylоv, a 9th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 18, twice climbed to the top of the podium in the U18 age category. First, he won the singles title, defeating Resul Atayev in a three-set final - 2:6, 7:6, 7:6, and then in doubles, beating Resul Mammеtgurbanov and Iskander Yagmyrov in a duet with Selim Pirjikov - 7:6, 6:1. It is noteworthy that in addition to gold in doubles competitions, S. Pirjikov added bronze in singles, defeating the second-seeded Resul Mammеtgurbanov in the match for 3rd place - 4:6, 6:4, 6:4.

This success of Selim Chagylоv and Selim Pirjikov is rightfully shared by their coach, Honored Coach of Turkmenistan Jennet Hallуeva.

In the younger age group U14, the winners of the Turkmenistan Championship were: in singles - Ali Geldiуev, the second-seeded 7th-grade student of the Turkmenabat Secondary Specialized School No. 2, and in doubles - Suleyman Hudayberdiуev, a 7th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 86, and Rustam Emirkhanov, an 8th-grade student of Ashgabat Secondary School No. 12.

In the singles final, A. Geldiуev won against the first-seeded Suleyman Hudayberdiyev - 6:1, 6:0. The bronze medalist was Nazar Amangeldiуev, winning the match for 3rd place over Kerimgeldi Velibekov - 6:1, 6:2.

And in the decisive doubles match, S. Hudayberdiуev and R. Emirkhanov defeated Nazar Amangeldiуev and Kerimgeldi Velibekov - 6:3, 6:3.

Ali Geldiуev trains tennis in Lebap with coach Babamyrat Mammatrasulov. Suleyman Hudayberdiуev trains with Gurbanberdi Gurbanberdiуev. And Rustam Emirkhanov perfects his skills at the Ashgabat Tennis Academy under the guidance of Mirali Gasanov, head coach of the Turkmenistan national team.

The results of this national championship will determine the composition of the Turkmenistan youth teams among juniors U14 and U18 for participation in international competitions.