Russian athletes were not allowed for international tournaments for three years, but everything once ends. At the end of February, the Russians performed at competitions in Istanbul, and the return turned out to be triumphant.

The national team won 14 gold medals, and all with a tricolor!

A pleasant exception

Talk about the return of Russians to the international arena sound louder every day. True, responsible persons make it clear that they are still ready to allow our athletes only in a neutral status, and they do not object to all kinds of restrictions. As a result, it seems that there is a chance to see Russian athletes even at the Olympics, but there is no question of full restoration in rights.

There are, of course, pleasant exceptions: amateur boxers compete under the flag, there are no restrictions for chess players in individual tournaments. Now they got a chance to remember what tricolor victories are, and Russian kickboxers. For three years they did not have the opportunity to test forces in international competitions, but after a protracted and painful expectation, such a chance appeared.

From February 26 to February 28, Istanbul hosted the World Martial Arts Championship kickboxing tournament, organized by the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAO). Adult athletes competed in the K1 discipline, juniors in Lowe-Kik, young men in Full Contact. Among the participants in the tournament were representatives of Australia, Germany, Iran, Switzerland and a dozen countries, including Russia.

Kikbboksers of the Russian national team (in the center) / Photo: © social networks Batu Khasikova

Realized the potential

Our athletes in Turkey, along with all participants, had the opportunity not to hide under neutral status, but openly represented their native country. The rivals treated this calmly: they did not fight in hysteria at the sight of a tricolor and did not even wrap themselves on the purposes of provocation by foreign flags. Russia has returned – and everyone in kickboxing took it for granted.

– For the Russian national team, this tournament was of particular importance. After more than three years of removal from international starts, participation in IMAO competitions allowed our athletes to realize their potential. Some of our fighters held three fights, which cannot but rejoice. The competition at the tournament was serious – perhaps not in all weight categories, but the level of rivals was really impressed. I am sure that participation in such tournaments must be continued, ”the press service of the Kikboxing Federation of Russia quoted the head coach of the national team Igor Kulbaev.

Russian athletes were not just limited to participation in the international tournament, they held it triumphantly. According to the results of three days of the competition, our athletes took 21 medal – 14 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze. With such results, they confidently won the command offset and proved that our country is still on leading positions in kickboxing even after a long detachment.