An open taekwondo tournament Kyiv Open was held in Kyiv city Sports Complex «Veneto-Sport» on November 13. About 200 athletes from five regions of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova took part in the competition in the kyorugi section. 

The tournament was attended by Kiev and such Ukraine regions as: Kiev, Odessa, Vinnitsa and Dnepropetrovsk. They were represented by teams and sports clubs: Children and Youth Sports School 3 “Spartak”, Kyiv; “Dunamis” club, Kyiv region; Odessa Regional Taekwondo Federation team; Vinnitsa Regional Taekwondo Federation team; “Strong Nation” club, Kyiv.

34 athletes from the Republic of Moldova attended the competition. 

The event organizers, the Public Union “Ukraine Taekwondo Union” (hereinafter – UTU, ed. note), the Public Organization “Taekwondo (WTF) Federation of Kyiv”, LLC “UTP” (Ukraine Taekwondo Promotion), ensured compliance with all safety standards under national quarantine. The tournament was held without spectators.

General partner of Kyiv Open 2020 – Samsung Electronics Ukraine. 

The opening ceremony was attended by UTU Vice Presidents Serhii Kiporenko, Artur Sedrakian, Oleksandr Orlovskyi. “An athlete’s motivation is competition. When there is no competition, he starts to mope and think: “Why do I need it?”. It is a tournament of this level that gives an athlete an opportunity to cheer up. Therefore, all those who really strive to develop strength, spirit, honor are here today”, – noted the UTU vice-president Serhii Kiporenko. 

Taekwondo athletes from 6 years old in 6 age categories fought for the first places.

• Kids 1 (born in 2014-2013) 
• Kids 2 (born in 2012-2011)
•  Youths (born in 2010-2009) 
• Cadets (born in 2008-2006)
• Juniors (born in 2005-2003)
•  Seniors (men) (born in 2002 and earlier) 

Competitions on 3 courts were held under the guidance of 16 referees. Head referee – Tamara Talakh, Kyiv (international referee). 

Based on the tournament results, 48 gold, 48 silver and 47 bronze medals were awarded to the prize-winners of the Kyiv Open, according to age categories. All prize-winners received gifts from the tournament sponsors. 

“The pandemic has shaken the level of taekwondo around the world. We are very grateful for the opportunity to come to Kiev and perform. We do not hold tournaments in Moldova, everything is prohibited, so we gladly came to the Kyiv Open, despite all the difficulties and requirements due to quarantine that we overcame”, — shared by Igor Dmitruk, taekwondo coach, Republic of Moldova 

For reference

The Kyiv Open taekwondo tournament begins its history in 2013. During its existence, more than 1,200 athletes from all regions of Ukraine, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Belarus, took part in the competitions. Over the years the tournament was attended by: the President of the National Olympic Committee Serhii Bubka, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Kim In-Czhun (2013) and consuls of the embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ukraine, the President of Samsung Ukraine, city officials, head coaches of the Spain Taekwondo Federation.