More than 280 wrestlers competed in the Ispenkov memorial tournament in Vitebsk

Young men and women aged 11 to 17 competed on the mats of the Vityaz OJSC sports complex. Vitebsk region was represented by wrestlers from the regional center, Obol of Shumilino district, Glubokoye, and Senno. In the team standings, Vitebsk wrestlers were unmatched, securing eighteen prize-winning places. Winners included Alexey Tatushkin (30 kg weight category), Dmitry Charkin (51 kg), Vladislav Baranov (52 kg), Nikolay Varivoda (up to 71 kg), and Ivan Chernyshev (up to 110 kg). Victoria Kasyanova and Daria Lyubich from Obol, who earned third places in their respective weight categories, also made their homeland proud, honoring the submariner who died heroically.

Anatoly Ispenkov's relatives, sister Zinaida and brother Gennady, congratulated the young athletes on their success. Anatoly Ispenkov was born in 1958 in the village of Khvostovo, Shumilino district, studied at Yazvino Secondary School, and after the 5th grade, moved to Vitebsk, where he graduated from Secondary School No. 8, which now bears his name. On April 7, 1989, the nuclear submarine "Komsomolets" sank as a result of a fire. Anatoly Ispenkov, commander of the electrical division of the 5th combat unit, remained at his combat post until the end. Out of the 69 crew members, 42 people died.

The freestyle wrestling tournament in memory of Anatoly Ispenkov has been held since 1993 on the initiative of the hero's childhood friend, Anatoly Kovalenko, senior coach of the SDUShOR "Bogatyr" of the regional trade union sports club.

SERGEY LYASHUK, photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV, "Vitebskiye vesti".