A taekwondo tournament was held in Vitebsk among 600 young athletes
Boys and girls competed for prizes for two days, worried about each other, and gained experience. According to the participants, such competitions are a good opportunity to make new friends, learn about the cultures of different countries, hone skills, and achieve their goals.
— This year, young athletes from Belarus, Russia, and the Baltic states have come to us, — said **Sergey Smichkov, senior coach of the regional taekwondo federation**. — The level of participants is high, as the Vitebsk taekwondo school is one of the best in the country and is valued beyond its borders.
The competitions were held in different age and weight categories, with medals contested among juniors, cadets, and children. **Nikolay Sherstnev, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee**, observed the tournament battles on the tatami.
— We want our children to be healthy. Therefore, a strategy for the development of the sports industry has been developed in the Vitebsk region, which provides for the creation of new sports facilities in all districts and the improvement of the existing base. For example, a swimming pool and a sports hall are planned to be opened in Gorodok in the near future, — Nikolay Nikolayevich informed. — The most important thing is to interest children in an active lifestyle. We are doing everything possible to introduce young people to various sports and create conditions for training. They should not be left to themselves and spend their free time aimlessly on the street.
Nikolai Sherstnev leads an active lifestyle himself, is involved in kettlebell lifting and weightlifting, and serves as an example to those around him. His granddaughter, who practices taekwondo, follows in his footsteps.
