In Memory of a “Handball Revolutionary”

Handball national teams have gathered for the fourth time in Kyiv to pay tribute to the great coach Ihor Turchyn, who, still referred to as the world handball revolutionary, passed away six years ago.

Under his guidance, Kyiv’s Spartak was champion of the Soviet Union for twenty years in a row. During that period, the team became the European Champions Cup winner 13 times. The Soviet national team Turchyn led twice won world championships and also twice the Olympics.

The traditions Ihor Turchyn sowed in Spartak are still alive. It is no accident that in 1996, at the first Turchyn Cup tournament (held exactly when he would have celebrated his sixtieth birthday), the Kyiv club girls overpowered the national teams of Ukraine, Russia, and Slovakia. However, only national teams have taken part in these tournaments since then. But the tournament’s grand prize, largely thanks to the Spartak girls, never traveled beyond Ukrainian borders until now.

The tournament formula was the same this time as well. Four teams encountered each other over three days. This time, Kyiv hosted the national teams of Russia, Belarus, and Yugoslavia. The tournament ended Sunday with Russia taking the prize 32:24. Belarus took third place over Yugoslavia. All matches were held in the Palace of Sports, Kyiv’s chief sport arena. And tournament organizers saw to it that admission to the grand stands is free. Will we get our cup back next time?