Ukrainian boxer Kira Makogonenko became the U19 World Champion in the 54 kg weight category. In the final of the World Championships in Budva, she defeated China's Yan Sirui 4:1. Overall, Team Ukraine finished the tournament with four medals — one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
The main star of the Ukrainian team was 18-year-old Kira Makogonenko. In the final of the 54 kg weight category, she faced China's Yan Sirui and secured a 4:1 victory on the judges' scorecards. As a result, the Ukrainian boxer claimed the top step of the podium and won the gold medal at the U19 World Championships.
Makogonenko began her path to the title in the round of 16. She defeated Poland's Zuzanna Golebiewska 5:0, before beating Venezuela's Yeniree Castillo by the same score in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Kira faced Italy's Kesia Reale, a former European U17 champion, and secured another victory, this time by a 4:1 decision.
Makogonenko therefore went all the way to the world title without a single defeat, recording 5:0 or 4:1 victories in three of her four bouts. Her gold medal in Budva became the biggest achievement for the Ukrainian team at the World Championships.
Another Ukrainian boxer to reach the final was Vladyslav Naumenko in the 90 kg category. In the semifinals, he defeated Kazakhstan's Yerketan Zharkynbek 4:1 to earn a place in the gold-medal bout.
In the final, Naumenko faced Uzbekistan's Asadbek Sultanboev. This time, the judges unanimously awarded the victory to his opponent, 0:5. The Ukrainian therefore finished the tournament with a silver medal.
Ukraine's medal haul also included two bronze medals. Sofia Novikova in the 80 kg category lost her semifinal bout to Russia's Ekaterina Frolova by a score of 0:5.
Another bronze medal went to Volodymyr Derkach in the +90 kg category. In the semifinals, the Ukrainian boxer lost to Uzbekistan's Islam Salikhov, also by a 0:5 score. Both athletes finished the tournament on the third step of the podium.
In total, Ukraine won four medals at the U19 World Boxing Championships: gold for Kira Makogonenko, silver for Vladyslav Naumenko, and bronze medals for Sofia Novikova and Volodymyr Derkach.
However, the biggest moment for the Ukrainian team was undoubtedly Kira Makogonenko's gold medal. The 18-year-old boxer became a world champion in her age category and brought Ukraine the highest honor of the World Championships in Budva. The U19 World Championships were held in Budva from October 16 to 27, with 474 athletes from 69 national federations taking part.
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