‘We feel loved’: Ukraine’s Women bring joy to ITF World Championships

If you looked at their results on paper, there would seem very little to smile about for Ukraine Women’s 75+ team at the 2024 ITF Masters World Team Championships.

Without winning a set, let alone a match across four ties, Ukraine finished rock bottom of their event. Nevertheless, Oleksandra Bohaienko, Elvira Palshyna and Galyna Goryana were all smiles as they reflected on their time at the World Championships:

"It is important for us that there are events like this where we are loved, well received and happy. We have met a lot of new people who are now like friends," said Goryana.

With their constant smiles and infectious laughter, Ukraine have brought joy throughout the World Team Championships. Even after they turned up over an hour late for their match against South Africa (their lack of English proving a logistical challenge throughout the week), there were good spirits all round – symbolised at the end of the tie when a pair of white socks were gifted by the Ukrainian trio to their bemused opponents. 

Given the ongoing war in their homeland, the participation of the Ukraine Women’s 75+ team at this year’s World Championships was a poignant and stark reminder of the geopolitics that lie behind any global sporting event in 2024.

Indeed, during our conversation, Goryana showed me an app on her phone which tracks the bombs falling each day in their hometown of Kyiv. Despite this, Bohaienko, Palshyna and Goryana could reflect on the importance of their participation at the World Championships in such difficult times.

"When there is a war going on, when Ukraine is under fire, we are happy that these competitions are a symbol of friendship and peace," said Goryana.

"We are happy and thankful that we were able to participate because it was very difficult for us to come, both financially and physically."

So, despite their disappointing results, all three players were aware that there was more at stake than winning or losing each time they stepped onto court. As Goryana put it, they were "playing for Ukraine".

It is also worth saying that Goryana is 90 years old and therefore she was competing against opponents who were over fifteen years younger than herself. While for Bohaienko, the World Championships was only her second ever ITF Masters tournament. With this in mind, the team’s pride at the "progress of their performances" through the week rings true despite the lopsided scorelines.

Ukraine Women's 75+ team will depart from Türkiye without a medal, but they certainly made a winning impression at the 2024 ITF Masters World Team Championships.