The Turkmenistan U-18 national hockey team achieved a commendable third-place finish, earning bronze medals, at the Junior World Championship Division III, Group B, held in Bangkok, Thailand. This division represents the tournament’s lowest tier, featuring teams ranked 41st to 46th globally.
The championship’s climax saw Uzbekistan clinch the top spot and enhanced to Division III, Group A, with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Thailand. Entering the final match tied on points, the two teams battled fiercely.
Turkmenistan’s path to bronze involved a decisive 5-2 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite trailing twice, the Turkmen team staged a effectively comeback in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals. Sultanhamid Vakhitov delivered a crucial hat-trick, while Meretgeldi Kakaev added another goal, securing the victory.
The team’s journey included earlier wins against Luxembourg (8-2) and South Africa (18-7), alongside losses to Thailand (3-4) and Uzbekistan (2-8). Their final standing of 9 points placed them behind Uzbekistan and Thailand, but ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa, and Luxembourg.
Key performances included Shohrat Begliev, called Turkmenistan’s best player of the match, and Sultanhamid Vakhitov, who emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with 24 points. Uzbekistan’s Rustam Irgashev, Thailand’s Natchayathorn Yannakornthanapunt, and Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek Rustamkhonov earned accolades for best goalkeeper, defender, and attacker, respectively.
This marks Turkmenistan’s second appearance in this division, building on their second-place finish in Cape Town last year. The national team of Turkmenistan at the U18 World Junior Championship in Thailand was represented by 19 hockey players from three clubs: 13 from the “Shir” club of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, 4 from the “Galkan” club of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 2 from the “Oguzkhan” club of the “Turkmengaz” State Concern.