https://arab.news/c2nfk
- Bordus was killed on June 11 in "fierce fighting against Russian invaders", according to "Sport Angels"
- A petition was posted on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's website calling for Bordus to be posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine"
KYIV: Ukrainian kickboxing champion Maksym Bordus has been killed fighting Russian forces, a website that lists athletes killed in the war said on Tuesday.
Bordus was killed on June 11 in 鈥渇ierce fighting against Russian invaders,鈥� according to 鈥淪port Angels,鈥� a Ukrainian website set up with the assistance of the Sports Committee that brings together NGOs and federations from non-Olympic sports.
鈥淓very day he brought Ukraine鈥檚 victory closer with a weapon in his hands, but he himself will not see it,鈥� it wrote under a photograph of Bordus posing with several medals.
A petition was posted on President Volodymyr Zelensky鈥檚 website calling for Bordus to be posthumously awarded the title of 鈥淗ero of Ukraine.鈥�
Sport Angels said he had won dozens of tournaments and was the World Association of Kickboxing (WAKO) champion of Ukraine.
It said that Bordus, who was born in 2000, had signed up to fight for the Ukrainian army on the first day of Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion in February last year.
The petition said Bordus was killed by a Russian shell while on a combat mission in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine鈥檚 sports ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sports Minister Vadym Huttsait said in April that 262 Ukrainian athletes had been killed in Russia鈥檚 war against Ukraine.