Post by : Shakul
At the 2026 Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, Didarbek Jumabayev, a rising talent from Turkmenistan, showcased his prowess by securing a silver medal in the clean and jerk event and a bronze medal in the overall standings for the men’s 79 kg category. This remarkable achievement highlights Jumabayev's status as one of Turkmenistan’s most promising young athletes in international junior weightlifting.
The championships featured over 270 competitors from 53 nations, fighting for titles across various weight classes. In the men’s 79 kg division, 17 competitors represented 14 countries, with Jumabayev proving formidable against his international rivals.
During the snatch events, Jumabayev successfully executed four out of six lifts. He managed lifts of 144 kg and 148 kg but fell short on his final lift attempt at 151 kg, placing him sixth at that stage, just shy of the leaders by a mere three kilograms.
The clean and jerk event became pivotal for Jumabayev, where he excelled with lifts of 182 kg and 187 kg on his first attempts. Although he did not complete the 189 kg lift on his final try, his strong performance earned him the hard-fought silver medal in this discipline.
Cumulatively, with a total of 335 kg—148 kg in snatch and 187 kg in clean and jerk—Jumabayev clinched the bronze medal in the overall rankings, finishing just one kilogram behind Armenia's Narek Mkrtchyan, who won silver with 336 kg. Egyptian competitor Hussein Abdelrahman Hamuda dominated the competition, taking home three gold medals with a total weight of 341 kg.
This marks Jumabayev’s first medal achievement at the World Championships for under-20 competitors, building on his previous success as a vice world champion at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Lima, Peru.
Starting his weightlifting journey in the Garashsyzlyk district of Dashoguz velayat, he later honed his skills at the “Olymp” secondary sports school in Ashgabat. He is currently being coached by Mansur Rejepov, who heads the national weightlifting teams.
National sport officials commended Jumabayev’s outstanding performance, emphasizing the need for nurturing athletic talent in Turkmenistan. Senior sports official Osmanguly Handurdyyev also offered congratulations to both Jumabayev and his coaching team.
Turkmenistan fielded a nine-member squad at the 2026 Junior World Championships, which included five female and four male athletes. Other competitors also displayed potential, with Oghulshat Amanova narrowly missing a medal in the women’s 53 kg category, finishing fourth with a total of 187 kg.
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