Briefly
20–21 March an Open All‑Ukrainian WTF taekwondo tournament, the "Champions Cup," was held in Poltava, bringing together more than 300 participants from various regions of Ukraine. The Irpin community was represented by 13 pupils of coach Felix Chekalovets — they returned home with 10 medals: three gold, two silver and five bronze.
Results
Gold: Emiliya Chekalovets, Ulyana Yankovska, Vsevolod Kostyuk.
Silver: Anastasiia Sirko, Alina Vynnyk.
Bronze: Mark Tsukanov, Lev Piyak, Stanislav Halayba, Artem Yarmulskyi, Lidiia Yankovska.
"For me, it is important that despite all the challenges, our children have the opportunity to train, travel to competitions and taste the thrill of victory. We thank our Defenders for the fact that Ukrainian children can pursue what they love, dream of big trophies and live a free life."
— Anzhela Makeieva, acting Irpin city mayor — secretary of the council
Why this matters
The numbers themselves are striking, but the context is more important. The sporting achievements of young athletes from Irpin act as a mechanism of social stabilization: they give children structure, motivation and the opportunity to represent their community at the national level. In times of rebuilding, such accomplishments become a marker of the restoration of everyday life — from training sessions to travel to competitions.
Moreover, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the coaching work and the community's willingness to invest in its youth. For parents, sponsors and local authorities this is a signal: sports development programs are working and deserve continued support.
Consequences and outlook
Social effect: increased self‑esteem among children, strengthened local identity and a positive image of the community. Practical effect: such achievements make it easier to argue for grant or sponsor support for infrastructure development and youth programs.
Now the task for Irpin is to turn the medals into sustained support: equip halls, ensure regular travel to tournaments and run programs for beginners. This is what will make the successes of the current generation a platform for the victories of the next.
Summary
Ten medals in Poltava are not only a victory for the athletes. They are an indicator that the community is working to restore normal life and investing in the safety and future of its children. The question to partners and philanthropists is simple: are they ready to strengthen this work so that such results become regular rather than isolated?
