Photo: veteranysporta.com
A handball tournament in memory of the Honored Coach of Ukraine and the judge of the International category, Mikhail Zakharovich Lipov, will be held in October 26 – 29 in the United States of America. Mikhail Lipov was a famous Ukrainian judge and coach, who was born in Vinnitsya. In fact, he devoted his whole life to sport. Mikhail Lipov began his career in Ukraine, which at that time was part of the USSR. In the early 1990s, he moved to the United States of America. Unfortunately, in January 2009, the famous Ukrainian coach was gone.
Nevertheless, the son of Mikhail Zakharovich, Leonid, continues his father’s work: in particular, he organized a Mikhail Lipov handball tournament in the US. Leonid Mikhailovich told to The Journalist correspondent more details.
«My father, Mikhail Lipov, began his sports activities in the city of Chernivtsi [Ukraine]. When the handball (at first 11×11, and later 7×7) became popular in the USSR in the late 50s, many athletes decided to learn a new game. My father also became interested in this sport. At that time he served in Army in Chernivtsi. When he was transferred to Lviv in 1962, he was offered to establish a men’s handball team in the Army Sports Club (SKA-Lviv). In 1967, the SKA-Lviv got into the highest league of the Soviet Union. Several players of this team, were also played in the USSR national team. At that time the Soviet handball was one of the best in the world,» Leonid Lipov said.
Before moving to the USA, Mikhail Zakharovich headed the board of judges of the Handball Federation of Ukraine.
«My father, Mikhail Lipov, was judging the World and European Championships, as well as the Olympic Games, which were held in 1980 in Moscow. In 1985, he headed the panel of judges of the Handball Federation of Ukraine. In 1991, father moved to America and lived here until 2009. Unfortunately, in January 2009, he was gone,» Leonid Lipov shared his memories.
The son of the Honored Coach of Ukraine, Leonid Lipov, also loves this sport. According to him, after moving to America, he missed handball very much. After Mikhail Zakharovich died, Leonid decided to organize a tournament in memory of his father. This year, this will be the ninth such a sport event to be held in the United States.
««I love this sport too. At one time I was a judge at the Spartakiad of Peoples of the USSR and Ukraine, at the championship of the Soviet Union. In 1989 I moved to the USA. Here I always missed a handball, which in America was not quite popular. In 2001, I was invited to become a member of the Handball Federation at the US Olympic Committee. From 2001 to 2004 I was the Vice President of this organization. In 2009, when my father died, I had an idea to create a tournament of his memory and, since 2010, the handball competitions named after Mikhail Lipov, are being held in Chicago. Now this is one of the most prestigious sporting events on handball in America. This year it will be held from October 26 – 29 in Chicago. This will be the 9th tournament, in which 8 men’s and 4 women’s teams will take part, among which will be not only American teams, but also guests from Canada (men’s and women’s teams). Also earlier, teams from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and even Mexico took part in the tournament. To promote this sport in the USA, we need, of course, financial support. Our regular partner is the International Courier Service, the network of international courier companies, created by ICS and based in Ukraine. The International Courier Service is the international network which operates in many countries and holds high positions in the global express transportation market,» Leonid Lipov told to The Journalist.
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