Paraná Combate 2026: Pato Branco and Apucarana athletes earn medals in state fight tournament

The sixth edition of Paraná Combate was held in Cascavel from July 23 to 26, 2026. Organized by the State Secretariat of Sports, the event gathered athletes from more than 100 municipalities and featured ten combat‑sport disciplines, making it the largest fighting competition in the Brazilian state of Paraná.

Team Silva from Pato Branco captured eleven medals across junior and adult taekwondo categories, including gold for Lucas Ostapiv in the adult division. The delegation also earned several bronze and silver medals in both fighting and poomsae events.

In wrestling, athletes from Apucarana made history: Victor França took silver in the freestyle senior category, while Elena Coutinho secured bronze, marking the first female wrestling medal for the municipality. Coaches highlighted the support provided by both municipal and state sports secretariats, noting quality accommodations and training resources for the competitors.