9 April, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Polotsk border guards were the strongest at the Belarusian Border Guard Service Hand-to-Hand Combat Championship, Denis Glebko, Assistant Head of the Polotsk Border Guard Detachment, told a BELTA correspondent. The championship was held at the Brest Border Guard Group administration from 4 to 6 April. 14 teams with a total of over 70 servicemen took part. Competitions were held in weight categories up to 60 kg, up to 65 kg, up to 70 kg, up to 75 kg, up to 80 kg, up to 85 kg, and over 85 kg. In the team competition, the team of the Polotsk Border Guard Detachment, consisting of Lieutenant A. Shilov, Lieutenant A. Boguk, Junior Sergeant I. Lagutik, Corporal A. Kazantsev, Privates M. Savaytan, S. Ermakov, A. Stepantsov, and E. Labzak, took first place. Second and third places were taken by teams from Brest and Pinsk, respectively. Many of the Polotsk border guards also reached the podium in individual competitions. Thus, A. Shilov became the winner in the weight category up to 70 kg, S. Ermakov in the weight category up to 60 kg, and A. Stepantsov in the weight category up to 85 kg, fulfilling and confirming their ranks of Candidate Master of Sport in hand-to-hand combat. M. Savaytan won silver in the weight category up to 60 kg. The successful performance was the result of a professional team selection, high-quality preparation for the competition, and strong psychological and volitional qualities, noted Denis Glebko. -0-

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