The I Interregional Boxing Tournament in Memory of the Hero of Russia Damir Gilemkhanov was held at one of the facilities of the Volga Region University of Sport and Tourism - at the Aquatics Palace. It is the first boxing tournament named after the heroic crew of the T-72B* tank: Corporal Damir Guilemkhanov, Senior Lieutenant Damir Islamov and Private Ivan Tsevun.
According to Sergey Ignatyev, President of the Boxing Federation of the Republic of Tatarstan, this tournament may become traditional. "Today we must form patriotism, love for the Motherland and ownership of history among children. And this tournament is important both for popularisation of boxing and for growth of glory of heroes of our country", - Sergey Ignatiev noted.
"It's not necessary for the dead - it's necessary for the living! - Rafis Burganov, Rector of Volga Region University of Sport and Tourism, began his welcoming speech with these words. - You have to be like our compatriots to be ready to give your life for your homeland without a second's hesitation. They did everything in their power to come out of this unequal battle with flying colours. Many thanks to their parents! One cannot prepare for such deeds in one day, one tournament, or one conversation. You have to deal with your children day and night. Once again I bow to my parents.
Relatives of Heroes of Russia were present at the competition. Damir's mother Lenariya Gilemkhanova said that in the last months of his conscription his son shared his thoughts of linking his life with service in the ranks of the Russian Army.
"He wrote: 'You will still be proud of me. And so it turned out, we are proud of him! The three of them have left their heroic mark on history," said the Hero's mother with a shiver in her voice. - We are very pleased that the school is named after him, and that there is now a tournament in honour of their exploit. Thanks to everyone for organising this tournament. And I wish good luck to the boys. It is important that people remember, respect and appreciate their heroism.
The participants were representatives of boxing clubs from the Republic of Tatarstan and other regions of the Russian Federation. Rivalry for awards was conducted in four age categories from 2013 to 2005 year of birth.
*Damir Gilemkhanov together with another Kazan Tank School graduate, Damir Islamov, were awarded the Hero of Russia star. The crew, which included a Tatarstanian, stormed a stronghold in one of the districts of the Luhansk People's Republic. He destroyed a firing point and enemy manpower. But it was set on fire by a "Molotov cocktail". The tankers managed to remove the vehicle from the battlefield, extinguish it and return to the battle. Gilemkhanov and Islamov's tank clashed with five AFU tanks and destroyed four of them. In the confrontation with the fifth tank, the Russian tank was hit and the crew did not survive.
