International petanque tournament, 3rd Ashgabat Tissot Open, deicated to the 26th anniversary of Independence of Turkmenistan has been completed in Ashgabat.Capital team Syahat including Batyr Kadyrov, Oleg Osadchiy, Alexander Shumskiy and Alevtina Goreyeva was the winner of the competition.
The team of French company ELF is the second.MTC team took over Berkarar team in stubborn contest for the bronze.
More than sixty sportsmen untied into twenty teams have participated in the tournament.They were divided into four groups with five team each.Only two teams of the group were allowed to pass to play-off where they continued the games in knockout.
Besides Turkmen petanque players, totally 9 teams, the members of Club Petanque TKM, representatives of foreign companies and personnel of the Embassies of France, Italy, Great Britain, who regularly play this game, took part in the competition.
After the tournament, the prize-winners and best players were awarded with medals, certificates and prizes form the sponsors.All the participants also received memorable certificates.
The petanque is new sport for Turkmenistan. However, back in 2014, national team took the bronze at the 4th Asian Beach Games in Thailand. It was the first international debut of the team.
The success attracted great attention of international experts and masters of this sport to Turkmenistan team. The sportsmen regularly receive invitations to participate in different international tournaments. Number of those who wants to go in for this sport is always growing. Currently, the work for foundation of Turkmenistan Petanque Federation is carried out.
Unlike many other sports, the age of petanque players is not limited. The rules are quite simple and resemble the curling but on the earth 4X16 meters ground. Anyone can make this ground in the yard. One of the first grounds made near the house of Zinoviy Arshavskiy, the great supporter of this game, is very popular.
The game is played between two teams until 13 points.The player or team receive winning points for placing the metal ball as close as possible to wooded ball, the “cochonet”.
Despite apparent simplicity, the game requires high concentration, accuracy and strength.Placing half a kilo metal ball into right spot at the distance of 6 meters is not that easy, especially for the girls.
The petanque can be played by team of two or three people and also individually.There are single, double and mixed as well as target competitions where the balls has to hit the target on 6 9 meters distance.
Interest in this game by growing number of Turkmenistan citizens is an evidence of growing popularity of healthy life style and involvement of our people in physical training and sports.