Harlan was not the only one - saber fencer from Odesa Komashchuk became the vice-champion of Europe

<b>Medals for Ukrainian fencers, victory of Odesa checkers player, volleyball Nations League and football Euro (U21</b> ) - in the digest of sports events from the South by Intent.

Fencing. Ukraine takes medals in the absence of a leader

<i>Olga Harlan Photo: vogue.ua</i>

• From June 14 to 19, the European Fencing Championships are taking place in Genoa, Italy . The Ukrainian team included 26 athletes - 12 men and 14 women. Among them was not the longtime leader of the national team, two-time Olympic champion Olga Harlan. According to the fencing federation, Olga is still engaged in general physical training, not preparing for specific competitions. She is resting this season.

<i>Alina Komashchuk, silver medalist. Photo: FIE</i>

• However, Ukrainian women's sabre has more than one leader. Alina Komashchuk, the Paris Olympic team champion, had one of the best individual tournaments and made it to the final, eventually winning a silver medal. This is the first individual medal for Komashchuk, who was previously a three-time silver and bronze medalist on the team.

<i>Roman Svichkar. Photo: PHOTO.</i>

• Komashchuk's medal was the second for Ukraine at this championship, as Kharkiv's Roman Svichkar won the men's epee event. There are four more days of competition ahead, where team awards and individual medals in women's epee and men's foil will be fought for.

Events of the week

<i>Victoria Motrichko. Photo: Salou Open international fencing tournament</i>

• Odesa-based Viktoriia Motrichko took third place in the classical classification at the prestigious 100 Draughts Tournament in Spain. Victoria took first place among women. Another Ukrainian, Alyona Nosareva, took second place .

Spartak Stadium, Kyiv. Photo: Ukrainian Rugby

• As a result of the shelling of Kyiv, the Spartak Stadium, which often hosts matches of the Rugby Super League (in which Odesa's Credo-1963 also participates), was heavily damaged. The banner with the name of the Odesa team was partially peeled off, but it still stands, which can be seen as a symbolism.

Games and results

Daria Snigur. Photo: Arata Yamaoka

• An extraordinary Ukrainian derby took place at a tennis tournament in Ilkley, England. Julia Starodubtseva from Novokakhovka won the first set against Daria Snigur , but in the next two games the Kyiv player did not give up a single game.

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Photo: cev.eu</i>

• Ukrainian volleyball players won their group of the Golden Euroleague and reached the semifinals of the competition. In the final week, the Ukrainians lost to Sweden (0:3) and defeated Slovakia (3:0). On June 28, the hosts of the final four, the Swedes, will be their next opponents.

Photo: volleyballworld.com

• Meanwhile, the men's national team has started playing in the elite-level competition - the League of Nations. In the first week, the Ukrainians started with two victories - over the United States (3:0) and Cuba (3:2), after which they lost twice in tense five-set matches - to the favorites of the competition, the national team of Brazil (2:3) and Iran (2:3).

The Ukrainian national football team. Photo: UAF

• In the second match at a friendly tournament in Canada<b>,</b> <b>the national team of Ukraine </b>defeated New Zealand<b>(2:1).</b> Ukraine will play the next matches in the fall - it will be a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.

Ukraine's U21 national team. Photo: Andriy Yushchak

• The youth team played the first two matches at the European Championship (U21). Unai Melhosa 's team lost in a dramatic match against Denmark (2-3), but convincingly beat Finland (2-0). The third-round match between Ukraine and the Netherlands will be the decisive one in the group. It is worth noting that in both matches , Maksym Bragaru, a student of Odesa football , scored goals .

Images of the week

Image: ua.tribuna.com

• Bragaru creatively celebrated his goal against Finland at Euro U21 by dedicating it to his wife and unborn child.

As always, we wish you and your favorite athletes and teams all the best!

Адлен Муатс