A big catch

Belarusian athletes have brought a scattering of victories and medals from international competitions

Last weekend turned out to be truly eventful — European Championships, World Cups and other top level championships brought a lot of victories to Belarusian athletes and positive emotions to fans. It has been a long time since we have been pampered with such an abundant feast of great results!

Mariya Gnedtchik, Belarusian athlete in pentathlon

Let us start with the domestic tournament as it can also delight with great achievements. First of all, our sincere congratulations to the Meshkov Brest handball players on the next (16th!) championship title. They once again had no equal in the Belarusian Men’s Handball Championship. Meshkov Brest confidently defeated SKA Minsk in all three matches of the final series, having won the last match in Brest with a score of 27:25, and proved that they are second to none in our country. Brest residents would certainly make noise in the EHF Champions League, but they are not allowed there. Of team sports, only Belarusian football players have the opportunity to participate in international competitions. UEFA and FIFA are the only sports organisations that try to maintain neutrality, stay clear of political jugglery and not to bend under agenda-driven decisions. 
In individual disciplines, Belarusians perform in the status of neutral athletes, which does not prevent them from glorifying their native country. The bright and unique rising star of the pentathlon, Mariya Gnedtchik has successfully done this having won a gold award at the Pentathlon World Cup in Budapest. This is the first resounding success for the 20-year-old girl and definitely not the last one since Mariya is one of the most promising Belarusian athletes. 

Alena Furman, Belarusian rower 

Let us say ‘brava’ to Alena Furman who won the European Rowing Championship in the lightweight women’s single sculls in Szeged, Hungary. One more Belarusian rower in the women’s single sculls, Tatsiana Klimovich also performed triumphantly at the same championship — she beat everyone in the Olympic qualification regatta and gained a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics. 
Our boxing athletes are not going home empty-handed from the Old World Championship that has finished in Serbia. Belarusian boxers have clinched three awards. Aryna Danilchyk and Viktoriya Kebikova claimed bronze, and Aliaksei Alfiorau earned silver. Aliaksei was quite capable of more, but the way to the champion title was barred by a hand injury that prevented our athlete from competing in the finals. 

Aliaksei Alfiorau, Belarusian boxer

Ihar Boki became the main hero of the Para Swimming European Open Championships. The Belarusian amphibian man, a 16-time Paralympic champion, distinguished himself with an incredible catch again. Ihar secured five victories at various distances and one silver award! The Belarusian national team has won nine medals in total.
And that is not all! Our outstanding synchronised swimmer Vasilina Khandoshka has demonstrated remarkable results at the Russian Synchronised Swimming Cup. The Belarusian took gold in the free programme, and showed the second result in the women’s solo technical programme. Taking into account the fact that there are no equals to Russian mermaids on the world stage, such a performance by Vasilina in Yekaterinburg can be safely equated with the most honourable world titles. Keep it up!

Vasilina Khandoshka, Belarusian synchronised swimmer 

By Sergei Kanashits