MINSK, 4 April (BelTA) – The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus has hosted a ceremony to honor the medalists of the second Children of Asia Winter International Sports Games, BelTA has learned.
The international competitions for young athletes took place in Russia’s Kemerovo Oblast on 23 February-5 March. The Belarusian team won one gold, five silver, and five bronze medals at the Children of Asia Games. Speed skater Polina Sivets claimed the champion title in the 3000m and also claimed two silver medals in the 1500m and mass start. Short-tracker Daniil Bychkov also won three medals (silver in the mixed relay and bronze medals in the 500m and the team event). Daniil shared the mixed relay podium with Matvei Mager, Darya Stepanova and Ksenia Lukashevich, and graced the team event podium with Matvei Mager, Roman Zelenin and Timofei Zhuk.
Silver medals were also collected by ski jumper Eva Bedritskaya and cross-country skier Konstantin Kasperovich (friendship relay). Belarus also got bronze medals from figure skater Vasily Borokhovsky, cross-country skier Viktoriya Zhemkova (friendship relay) and speed skaters Roman Chernyavsky, Fyodor Danilov and Radomir Minin (team sprint).
“It was just a month and a half ago that we held a send-off ceremony for you to these competitions. Today the occasion of our meeting is no less exciting, but more pleasant – we have met here today to congratulate you on the medals you won. Besides, we would like to pay tribute to your coaching staffs and your families as well: you all have achieved these results together,” NOC President Viktor Lukashenko said. “The way to the Olympic heights begins at this very age. All our great athletes began their sporting careers at similar competitions, and years later they rose to the Olympic podiums. I am sure that these competitions gave you not only the experience of participation, but also helped you establish friendly relations, which you will probably carry through your life. This is only the beginning for you, and I wish that in the future we will see your photos in our Olympic Hall of Fame, and may your careers be successful. You should know that we will do our best to keep you involved in international competitions,” he added.
“I would like to thank the National Olympic Committee on behalf of the whole team for the opportunity to represent our country at the Children of Asia Games, and also all the fans for their support,” Polina Sivets, the speed skating champion, said. “This was our first competition following a long time of absence from international competitions, and we were really happy to take part. When we stood on the podium, we were overwhelmed with pride. I am sure that the biggest victories of our generation are still ahead of us,” she said.
Taking part in the second Winter Children of Asia International Sports Games were more than 850 young athletes from 12 countries. Belarus fielded 68 athletes at the games. The second edition of the Children of Asia Games featured 57 medal events.
