Hong Kong, China 3-0 Ukraine : Pride despite debut defeat for Ukraine

HONG KONG, CHINA 3-0 UKRAINE
Tong Tsz-Wing 3-0 Anastasiia Krykun   11-2, 11-1, 11-1 (14m)
Chan Sin Yuk 3-0 Milena Velychko   11-3, 11-2, 11-1 (15m)
Ho Tze-Lok 3-0 Anastasiia Kostiukova  11-2, 11-1, 11-4 (20m)

Despite a defeat in their opening tie, the overriding emotion was one of pride among the Ukraine squad as they made their WSF Women’s World Team Championship debut in a 3-0 defeat to Hong Kong, China.

Ukraine No.1 Anastasiia Kostiukova, who travelled from Kyiv, Ukraine, to lead her team out on the biggest stage reflected afterwards:

“I feel very excited to play and represent my country. Of course, it is hard times right now. But we have positive emotions and it’s great experience for us. It’s a great honour for me and all our team. We don’t have the strongest team but we have positive emotions.”

Kostiukova added that she’d be advising her young teammates not to be upset about the result: “We’ve come here to gain experience of playing [at this level] and even if a match goes badly, that doesn’t mean the next time it will be the same.”

Ukraine coach Kostiantyn Rybalchenko added:

“This is a perfect time for our team and our country to be represented and competing in this championship. It’s such a good news for us.

“It was not that easy to create our team, as some of our juniors are not in Ukraine and living in Europe, and some of our players are still in our country. Also, we the coaches are men, so we cannot leave our country.

“Also, it’s a great experience for us, especially as it’s the first time ever a women’s team participates in the World Teams. So, a great experience as a team, but also for the players individually. And we are really excited to be here.

“It is so important for us as well as our players didn’t have the opportunity to do any tournaments or competition in Ukraine. So getting again the chance to compete, it’s such a great opportunity for us.