Irpin hosted the Donetsk Oblast WAKO Kickboxing Championship — over 160 participants, SC "Nova Sich" finished second in the team standings
Competitions for children and youth have become more than just a sporting tournament: they are a platform for restoring ties between communities, for raising a new generation, and for social resilience. We explain why the results matter today.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 10, 2026 · 2 min read
What happened
In Irpin, the Donetsk Oblast WAKO kickboxing championship among children, youths and juniors took place. The tournament included more than 160 athletes from Donetsk Oblast, Bucha, Irpin and Kyiv — the event was organized to preserve sporting traditions and restore ties between communities.
“More than 160 athletes from Donetsk Oblast, Bucha, Irpin and Kyiv took part in the tournament”
— Irpin City Council
Who represented Irpin
The Irpin community was represented by the team of СК «Нова Січ», which included kickboxers from towns in Donetsk Oblast and from Irpin itself. Such a team is an example of how sports clubs maintain links with the region and give young people the opportunity to train despite difficult circumstances.
Results — the raw numbers and the individuals
The СК «Нова Січ» team took 2nd place as a team, winning 15 gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze medals. The names of the champions (gold medals): Назар Семенюк, Максим Пятак, Сергій Поздняков, Нікіта Овчинніков, Богдан Боровський (2), Роман Сапегін (2), Михайло Бродський (2), Дмитро Вострєцов, Віталій Шевченко, Дмитро Тейзе, Артем Семенюк, Анастасія Хотовицька.
Silver medals were won by: Дмитро Тейзе, Артем Семенюк, Анастасія Хотовицька, Кирило Шаповалов, Деймон Завалій, Максим Скритуцький, Іван Крючков. The bronze medal was won by Давид Аксьонов.
Why it matters
First, such tournaments are a tool for restoring civic life. Second, working with children and teenagers in sport is about risk prevention, discipline and psychological resilience. Third, the successes of the Irpin club confirm that investment in local sports schools yields tangible results: medals are not only a source of pride but also a marker of the quality of youth training.
Brief conclusion
The competition in Irpin is an example of how sporting routines return even in unstable times. The next step for communities and coaches is to maintain the positive momentum: more training, support for clubs and participation in regional leagues. Whether the local training system can turn these medals into a steady flow of new champions is a question for the next season.
