Turkmen shade rivals with eight gold in Sambo

Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan finished the Sambo competition with two medals apiece on the last day of Sambo action at the Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

After the medal bonanza on Monday 25 September, the Turkmen shared some of the glory with their main competitors but still won overall with eight gold and 23 podium positions.

"We really help each other," said women’s -56kg champion Rusana Nurjawowa after sealing Turkmenistan’s eighth and final gold medal.

"Before the competition we were just team-mates. Now we we have become not only friends, but we feel like brothers and sisters.”

Kazakhstan can also look back at a successful run in Ashgabat, finishing second overall with seven gold. 

Two-time Asian champion Zafar Allabergenov won the men’s Combat -68kg, leaving his country Uzbekistan with three golds and fourth place overall.