Ashgabat hosted the championship of Turkmenistan in goalball. Goalball is a summer Paralympic sport. It is played by visually impaired athletes.

The matches were held from April 29 to 30 on the territory of the multifunctional sports center of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, the National Paralympic Committee of Turkmenistan told Turkmenportal.

Teams from Ahal, Mary, Lebap, Dashoguz velayats and the city of Ashgabat took part in the championship.

The winner of the competition was the team of Ahal velayat (students of the Central Physical Educational Sports Club of the Disabled of Turkmenistan). The second place was taken by the team of the Lebap velayat, the third - by the team of the Dashoguz velayat.

The winners and prize-winners received diplomas and valuable gifts from the National Paralympic Committee of Turkmenistan.

Goalball is part of the Paralympic Games. The game originated in the middle of the last century in Austria and Germany for the rehabilitation of the visually impaired. In 1976, the Paralympic debut was held in Toronto (goalball appeared in the official program in 1980), and in 1978 the first world championship was held in Austria.