A training camp for young athletes from Turkmenistan and Russia in table tennis has begun in Ashgabat for the first time. The Turkmen tennis players are training with students from the UMMC club in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Oblast, one of Russia's leading table tennis clubs.

The event is taking place at the Ashgabat Olympic Village and the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.

"The children play, see many athletes, and a new style. They're inspired to train more. Sharing experiences is very important for athletes," said Davud Yakubov, head coach of the Turkmenistan national table tennis team.

According to him, the level of Russian athletes is high, but Turkmen players are showing decent results.

The Russian delegation includes six athletes aged 14 to 16, a coach, and a club representative. "The scale of the sports infrastructure is simply astounding," UMMC coach Ilya Zhidkov shared his impressions.

He emphasized that such training camps are useful for sharing experiences: "The more training you do with different athletes, the more experience you gain. Everyone has their own style, their own characteristics."

Zhidkov also noted that Turkmenistan has all the necessary capabilities to host international table tennis competitions. The Russian side expressed its readiness to host Turkmen athletes on a return visit to Yekaterinburg.

In addition to training, a cultural program is planned for the young Russian tennis players to introduce them to the sights and traditions of Turkmenistan.