Moldova hosts record-breaking European Kettlebell Championship

Between December 4–7, the Kettlebell European Championship is taking place at “Chișinău Arena,” an event organized for the first time in the Republic of Moldova.

This year’s edition sets a participation record for continental competitions of the profile federation, gathering 257 registrations from 16 countries. At the same time, the tournament gains open championship status thanks to the presence of an invited delegation from India, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

The competition also stands out through its inclusive component, integrating events dedicated to para-athletes—an element that enhances both the social impact and sporting significance of the event.

“For the Republic of Moldova, it is a great honor to host this championship. Beyond the prestige, we also have an enormous responsibility, as this is an event organized for the first time in our country. Athletes from 16 countries are participating, with 257 registrations—a record for this type of competition at European level and a remarkable achievement for the International Kettlebell Confederation,” said the president of the national federation, Dumitru Prodan.

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Research, Sergiu Gurin, emphasized the institution’s support for the development of this sport discipline.

“I wish great success to all athletes, especially those from the Republic of Moldova. We want to become champions at home, and I hope this will happen. The Ministry of Education supports this sporting event financially, morally, and logistically, with the hope that this discipline will develop in our country. For many, the kettlebell discipline may seem unusual, but it is important because paralympic athletes and athletes with locomotor disabilities participate. This was practically the main motivation for accepting the organization of the competition, as they compete equally alongside the other athletes,” stated Sergiu Gurin.

The importance of the participation of athletes with disabilities was also highlighted by the First Vice President of the Paralympic Committee, Vitalie Gligor.

“The most important thing is that people with disabilities will also participate in these competitions. It is a demonstration that among them are athletes who deserve to be accepted and promoted, showing they have the potential to become champions,” noted the vice president of the Paralympic Committee.

In turn, the president of the International Kettlebell Federation (WKSF), Oleg Ilika, remarked on the atmosphere and organization of this year’s edition.

“This is my first time in the Republic of Moldova and I am glad to be here. Our aim is to unite weight sport enthusiasts from around the world, regardless of religion or culture, and what we see today in Chișinău is the result of extraordinary work,” said Oleg Ilika.

The national team of the Republic of Moldova is participating with around 30 athletes, including world and European record holder Nicolae Bîrliba, as well as athletes Frank Nicolae and Mihai Muntean.