The national oriental kickboxing squad returned with seven golds, six silvers, and five bronzes from the World Kickboxing Cup that was held in the Hungarian town of Szegedy. “We showed that out athletes are valuable. We are glad that we have where to choose from every year,” Tudor Gorea, president of the National Kickboxing Federation, said in a news conference on May 22.

The following athletes became champions in their weight classes: Andrei Ipatii, Petru Morari, Olesea Chitanu, Maxim Vnodchenko, Eugeniu Bondarenco, and Igor Boscanean. “I though I will be beaten in the final, but God helped me win,” said the youngest champion of the national tem Igor Boscanean, who is only 11.

Acting Minister of Youth and Sport Octavian Ticu praised the sportspersons for their performance. “I’m glad about your success. Kickboxing becomes a representative sport for our country, with regional diversity,” he stated.

The competition in Hungary involved about 1,000 athletes from 20 countries. Moldova was represented by sportspersons from nine districts. The European Juniors and Cadets Championship that will take place in Poland in September is the next important event for the Moldovan kickboxers.