Despite the terrible circumstances of the war that engulfed Ukraine, Ukrainian children continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience, courage and the will to win in various spheres of life, including sports. They do not give up and, despite everything, reach new heights, overcoming not only their rivals, but also their own fears and difficulties that they have to face every day. They continue to play sports, because for them it is not just a hobby, but a chance to leave a mark, overcome fears and, most importantly, have hope for a better future. Ukrainian athletes, even despite the war, prove that sports achievements and dreams have no borders.
Boxing Championship of Ukraine among 16-17-year-old athletes
A striking example is the Ukrainian boxing championship among 16-17-year-old athletes, which ended on December 22 in Khmelnytskyi. These competitions gathered more than 300 participants from all over the country, and, as noted President of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast Boxing Federation Andriy Chumakov, they became an important stage of selection for the Ukrainian national team. At such competitions, Ukrainian athletes not only demonstrate their technique, but also show that, despite all the difficulties, sport remains their passion and a source of hope for the future.
One of the bright participants of this Championship was the 17-year-old boxer Anton Chernyakhov from the city of Bagacheve in Cherkasy Oblast. He said that from the first day of his training, he dreamed of achieving high results, and now, eight years later, his dream came true – he fulfilled the standards of a master of sports of Ukraine. He shared that the final fight was very difficult, because his opponent was taller than him by half a head. However, despite the difficulties, Anton managed not only to win, but also to win the well-deserved title of master of sports.
Who became the champions?
Vyacheslav Naumenko from Kyiv became the champion of Ukraine in the weight category of 86 kilograms. As he admitted, the semi-final match was much more difficult than the final. He noted that the first two fights ended prematurely, and he hardly had time to catch his breath between fights. However, the experience gained in the previous competitions helped him calmly approach the final and win. This is Vyacheslav’s second championship title of Ukraine, and, no doubt, new heights await him in the future.
Another talented athlete, 17-year-old Ilya Mylnikov, also became the champion of Ukraine in boxing. This is his second title. Ilya has been training at the Khmelnytskyi boxing club “Avangard” for three years, and, as he said, his path to victory was not easy. He fulfilled the standard of master of sports at the Kuzhelny tournament, and now won a gold medal at the Championship of Ukraine. Ilya shared that the final match was the most difficult, because his opponent was much taller than him, which made it difficult to set up and fight. But, despite the difficulties, he was able to adapt and win.
This championship not only brought many bright victories, but also became an important event for the sports community of Khmelnytskyi. In particular, the women’s team of the region won two gold, four silver and three bronze awards, winning the first place in terms of points and the third place in the number of medals. The men’s team won 4 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals. This is a huge achievement for the region, which continues to develop sports, despite all the difficulties that the country is going through.
The competition also had a qualifying nature for the formation of the national team of Ukraine for the European and Asian championships, which will be held next year. This adds additional weight to these competitions, because the winners and prize-winners not only receive prestigious awards, but also open up new opportunities for themselves on the international stage.
This championship became another proof that Ukrainian children, despite the war, continue to work on themselves, train and reach new heights. For them, sport is not only a means of maintaining physical fitness, but also a chance to demonstrate strength of spirit, unshakable faith in victory and zest for life. These victories are a real holiday for all of Ukraine, which gives hope for a better future even in the most difficult times.
