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Belarus claims Muay Thai youth world champion titles

An archive photo

MINSK, 24 June (BelTA) - Belarusian athletes have secured seven medals ahead of the final day of the IFMA Muay Thai World Championships 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, BelTA has learned.

The tournament participants are competing in two age categories — adult and youth. Gold in the under-24 women’s 75 kg division was won by Belarus’ Varvara Sviatlichnaya, who defeated Russia’s Elizaveta Lytvenkova in the final. Ruslan Kiamalau (75 kg) also became a youth world champion: in the preliminary bouts, he defeated representatives of the UAE and Uzbekistan, and in the deciding fight, he overcame Russia’s Timofey Inkirev.

Silver medals were won by Heorgi Fokin (U24, -67 kg) and Valeryia Khvatsik (U24, -51 kg). Along the way, Heorhi Fokin defeated opponents from Algeria, Greece, and Iraq, but lost in the final to Ayoub Bernoussi of the UAE. Valeryia Khvatsik eliminated Elina Perstnova of Ukraine, but then fell to Russia’s Anastasia Melnikova in the gold medal bout.

The Belarusian team also has three bronze medals, won by Daniil Dzedavets (-67 kg), Darya Belkova (-63.5 kg), and Artsiom Halai (U24, -51 kg). Daniil Dzedavets claimed two victories at the tournament, while Darya Belkova and Artsiom Halai each won one, but all three fell in their semifinal bouts.

The IFMA Muay Thai World Championships 2026 will conclude on 25 June. On the final day of competition, Belarus’ Miron Barbarovich (U24, -60 kg), Yauheni Fedarynchyk (-71 kg), and Mikita Kokash (-91 kg) will compete for the world title. The tournament in Malaysia brought together more than 500 athletes from 114 countries, with Belarus represented by 14 competitors.

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