Belarus women’s coach Samvel Kagramanyan has revealed the team that will compete in next week’s World League Round 2 event in Valencia, Spain. The tournament takes place between Monday 25 February and Sunday 3rd March, and will feature Ireland (FIH World Ranking 14), Spain (15) Italy (17), Belarus (21) and Czech Republic (37). The two highest finishers in the Round Robin tournament will qualify for Round 3 of the World League.
The tactician is confident that his team will perform well and learn from the experience, but admitted to being disappointed about being unable to bring a full quota of 18 players to the competition.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Mr Kagramanyan said: "Today, this is the best team. Julia Kurganskaya, one of the best midfielders from the Ritm-Azot club, has left the national team as she will soon become a mother. This is one of the reasons why we could not bring 18 players to Spain, and arrive with a short roster of 16 players. Many of our competitors are in the best condition for this tournament, so we can only hope that the experience and commitment of our players will help us.”
The team arrived in Valencia earlier this week and took part in a friendly match against a university team from Australia on Wednesday, emerging as 4-1 winners from the contest. This weekend the team will play a university team from The Netherlands as they continue their preparation for the start of the World League Round 2 tournament on Monday.
Belarus will play Italy in their first match of the tournament. The two teams met on the final day of the World League Round 1 event in Prague, where Belarus emerged as 2-1 winners to finish top of the Round Robin tournament and seal their place in Round 2.
"Italy is a well-known opponent, we often meet at international tournaments”, continued coach Kagramanyan. “A recent meeting finished 1-1. If we manage to beat the Italians and the players from Ireland, I think that 90% of the work will be done.”
Belarus team for World League Round 2 in Valencia.
Hanna ZABROTSKAYA (НС Minsk)
Khristsina KIBKOVA (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Alena CHEPIKAVA (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Volha KHAMKO (HC Ritm-Azot Grodno)
Natallia STSIFUTKINA (HC Ritm-Azot Grodno)
Maryia HALINOUSKAYA (HC Ritm-Azot Grodno)
Alesia PIOTUKH (C - HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Ryta BATURA (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Yuliya MIKHEICHYK (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Rehina SYCHEVSKAYA (НС Minsk)
Nadzeya SILITSKAYA (HC Ritm-Azot Grodno)
Nastassia SYRAYEZHKA (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Krestsina KULINKOVICH (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Maryna PAKHANAVA (HC Victoria Smolevichi)
Hanna DAKUTOVICH (HC Ritm-Azot Grodno)
Maryna NAVITSKAYA (GK - HC Victoria Smolevichi).
Source Material: Belarus Hockey Federation
