Seventeen-year-old Didarbek Jumabayev from Turkmenistan showcased remarkable talent at the 2026 Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia, Egypt. He clinched a silver medal in the clean and jerk event and a bronze in the overall standings in the men's 79 kg weight class. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for Turkmen athletes in international junior competitions.
The prestigious championship featured over 270 participants from 53 nations, competing across both men's and women's categories. In the men’s 79 kg section, 17 contenders from 14 different countries battled for supremacy. Despite a thrilling field, Jumabayev emerged as one of the top junior weightlifters.
Throughout the snatch phase, the young athlete executed four successful lifts out of six attempts, managing to lift 144 kg and 148 kg. However, he fell short on his last attempt of 151 kg. Following the snatch segment, he ranked sixth, trailing the frontrunners by just three kilograms.
The clean and jerk proved crucial for Jumabayev. He successfully lifted 182 kg and 187 kg on his first two tries, but failed to complete a 189 kg lift on his last attempt. Yet, this solid effort secured him the silver in the clean and jerk.
With a total lift of 335 kg — 148 kg in the snatch and 187 kg in the clean and jerk — Jumabayev earned a well-deserved bronze in the overall category, just a kilogram shy of Armenia’s Narek Mkrtchyan who took silver. Meanwhile, Egyptian lifter Hussein Abdelrahman Hamuda captured first place with a total of 341 kg and three golds.
This event marked Jumabayev's first medals at a World Championship in the under-20 category, building on his previous success at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Lima, where he earned three silvers and the title of vice world champion in the under-17 division with a performance totaling 305 kg.
Jumabayev began weightlifting in the Garashsyzlyk district of Dashoguz velayat and progressed through training at the “Olymp” secondary sports school in Ashgabat, now under the watchful eye of Mansur Rejepov, the head coach for the national team.
His achievement has been recognized by officials from the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Culture and Sports, who emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent. Osmanguly Handurdyyev, an esteemed sports official, also showered praises on the success of both Jumabayev and his coaching team.
Turkmenistan fielded a total of nine athletes in the 2026 Junior World Championships, comprising five females and four males. Other competitors showed commendable performances, with Oghulshat Amanova narrowly missing out on a bronze in the women’s 53 kg category, finishing fourth with a total lift of 187 kg, while Shabnam Kerimbayeva ended up eighth. The performances reflect Turkmenistan's improving status in the global weightlifting arena.
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