On September 20-21, the Yubileyny Sports Complex in St. Petersburg hosted the international and all-Russian karate competition "Petersburg Autumn," dedicated to the memory of Vitaly Konev. The event, according to organizers, holds profound significance for the entire community:

"The 'Petersburg Autumn' is more than just a tournament or a karate event; it is the living legacy of Vitaly Konev. His name has become a symbol of unwavering dedication to the sport. For the second year, we gather to honor Vitaly Konev, the former president of the St. Petersburg Karate Federation."

More than 1,500 top karatekas from different parts of Russia and the world converged on the St. Petersburg tatami. 76 deaf athletes from 8 countries (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkey, Moldova, Uzbekistan) also took part in the event. Separate competitions were organized for them in the deaf sports category (participation from 14 years of age).
The performance of Irina Krivova and Sergey Tetyushkin deserves special attention, as they continue active preparation for the upcoming Summer Deaflympics, which will be held in Tokyo in November 2025. The athletes once again confirmed their highest level of skill by winning medals in their categories.

The opening ceremony and the award ceremony were attended by distinguished guests: First Vice-President of the All-Russian Sports Federation of the Deaf Vyacheslav Ershov, Vice-President of the Russian Karate Federation Viktor Khan, Vitaly Konev's daughter Alexandra, President of the St. Petersburg Karate Federation, Honored Coach of Russia Sergey Krivakovsky. First Vice-President of the All-Russian Sports Federation of the Deaf Vyacheslav Ershov took part in the award ceremony.

The tournament became an important stage in the athletes' preparation for future competitions and allowed participants to exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries. Congratulations to the winners and prize-winners!


Text: Olga Troynikova, Nurlan Tazhigulov
Photo: Valeria Sergeeva, Valeria Stadnik (St. Petersburg Sports Karate Federation)
Translation: Daria Kudelina