In a stunning display of talent, 17-year-old weightlifter Didarbek Jumabayev from Turkmenistan excelled at the 2026 Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia, Egypt. He secured a silver medal in the clean and jerk and a bronze in the total standings for the men’s 79 kg weight category, marking a standout achievement for Turkmenistan in international youth sports.

The championships gathered over 270 athletes from 53 nations, all competing within eight men’s and women’s categories. In the men's 79 kg category, Jumabayev faced tough competition from 17 athletes representing 14 countries. His remarkable performance earned him a top rank among the best junior weightlifters in the world.

During the snatch segment, Jumabayev showcased his skills by accomplishing four successful lifts out of six total attempts, lifting 144 kg and 148 kg successfully but falling short at 151 kg. He ended the round in sixth place, just three kilograms shy of the leaders.

The clean and jerk event became pivotal; he managed to lift 182 kg and 187 kg on his first two tries. While he was unable to complete a final lift of 189 kg, the young athlete’s performance earned him a silver medal in this event.

With a cumulative total of 335 kg, blending his snatch and clean and jerk lifts, Jumabayev secured bronze overall, narrowly missing second place by just one kg compared to Armenia’s Narek Mkrtchyan. The title of champion went to Egypt’s Hussein Abdelrahman Hamuda, who netted three golds with a total of 341 kg.

This triumph signifies Jumabayev's first medal win at the World Championships in the under-20 category, following an impressive run in the 2025 Youth World Championships in Lima, where he was vice world champion in the under-17 division with a total of 305 kg, including three silver medals.

Starting in the Garashsyzlyk district of Dashoguz velayat, Jumabayev honed his skills at the “Olymp” secondary sports school in Ashgabat from the eighth grade. He currently trains under the guidance of Mansur Rejepov, head coach for Turkmenistan's junior and senior weightlifting teams.

Officials from the State Committee of Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan commended Jumabayev’s accomplishments, emphasizing the significance of nurturing young athletic talents. Senior sports official and international referee Osmanguly Handurdyyev extended congratulations to both Jumabayev and the coaching staff for their success at this prestigious tournament.

Turkmenistan sent nine competitors to the 2026 Junior World Championships, including five women and four men. Other athletes, like Oghulshat Amanova, narrowly missed a medal in the women’s 53 kg category, finishing fourth with a total of 187 kg, while Shabnam Kerimbayeva came in eighth. These performances demonstrate Turkmenistan's growing resilience and potential in the realm of international weightlifting.