Irpin and Bucha — 11 medals at the Lviv Open Cup: a sign of the revival of sporting life in the Kyiv region
A team of 15 athletes won 11 medals at an open tournament in Lviv. It's not just about the medals — it's about the return of childhood, the continuity of coaching work, and the rebuilding of communities.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Briefly
On March 5–6, 2026, the open All‑Ukrainian tournament «Lviv Open Cup» in WTF taekwondo took place in Lviv. According to the organizers, more than 300 athletes from various parts of Ukraine participated in the competition. The team from Irpin and Bucha — 15 participants led by coach Felix Chepkalovets — returned home with 11 medals: 4 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze, and in the team standings, having teamed up with the «Imperator» club, took second place.
Details of the competition
The tournament brought together young athletes from different age groups, creating a high level of competition. For teams from frontline and rebuilding communities, participation in such events is not only a sporting result but also a test of the stability of the training system and support for youth.
Why this matters
The return of children to regular training and competitions is a marker of the restoration of the community's social life. Sport provides not only physical preparation but also psychological stability, discipline and a sense of prospects for young people. For the reader, this means: investments in youth sports programs and the work of coaches yield real effects in rebuilding communities and forming future leaders.
Who won medals
Gold: Anna Mykhailova (2017), Emiliya Chekalovets (2017), Kyrylo Mykhaliuk (2017), Artem Krymivskyi (2016).
Silver: Mark Tsukanov (2018), Matvii Yehorchenko (2017), Denys Burya (2015), Alina Vinnik (2013).
Bronze: Anastasiia Sirko (2015), Vsevolod Kostiuk (2016), Ulyana Yankovska (2019).
"The level of the competition is very high. Many athletes performed well, but they were just a little short of victory! We thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all defenders for giving children the opportunity to develop and to live their childhood as fully and positively as possible."
— Felix Chepkalovets, coach of the Irpin and Bucha team
What next
The result in Lviv is an important signal for local communities and partners: systematic work by coaches and support for children produce concrete results. The next step is to maintain the accessibility of sports sections, engage local initiatives and donors so that this positive outcome does not remain episodic. For those monitoring the country's reconstruction, the sporting victories of youth are one of the least visible but most resilient indicators of recovery.
