Turkmenistan's U16 Team Aims for Davis Cup Qualification

Post by : Shakul

The U16 tennis squad from Turkmenistan has set off for Kazakhstan to compete in the qualification round of the Junior Davis Cup 2026. This event is scheduled to take place in Shymkent from May 18 to May 23 and will gather 16 top junior teams from Asia and Oceania.

Their journey to the final qualification stage began with an outstanding performance in the preliminary tournament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where they showcased one of the best records for a Turkmen junior tennis team in the international arena.

This preliminary tournament was overseen by the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation, bringing together 15 national teams, with Turkmenistan competing as the sixth seed.

The team roster features Suleyman Hudayberdiyev from Specialized Secondary School No. 86 in Ashgabat, Ali Geldiyev from the Young Olympians Training School, and Kerimgeldi Guldurdyyev from the Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary Comprehensive School named after A.S. Pushkin. They are coached by Gurbanberdi Gurbanberdiyev, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup.

In Colombo’s group stage, the Turkmen team excelled, finishing first in Group B with a 3-0 win over Oman and narrow 2-1 victories against Myanmar and Singapore. They then swept the Philippines 2-0 in the quarterfinals, marking the first time Turkmenistan entered the tournament's top four.

The qualification tournament in Shymkent will see fierce competition from teams including Australia, Japan, China, India, and South Korea, among others. Only four teams will progress to the final stage of the Junior Davis Cup.

Prior to the start of the competition, officials will conduct an official draw. As they gear up for this major endeavor, the Turkmen players are preparing to face some of Asia's most formidable junior tennis nations.

First introduced in 1985 as the Junior World Cup for boys under 16 and renamed in 2002, the Junior Davis Cup remains a prestigious event, paving the way for future tennis stars.