Azerbaijan’s women’s table tennis team lost to Russia in the final of the 3rd CIS Games.
Idman.biz spoke with the team’s head coach, Farhad Ismayilov, following the match.
When asked what the team lacked to secure victory, Ismailov said he was proud of the girls, who had already shown their best qualities by defeating strong Belarus in the semifinals. He noted that Russia’s team, even after international sanctions, remains one of the best in Europe and the world, so losing to them was not shameful. “The girls did everything they could, but the opponents were objectively stronger,” he added.
Regarding whether the silver medal feels like gold, Ismailov responded, “Not only can you say that, but you must. Despite restrictions, the Russian players retained their strength and abilities. This tournament was their chance to shine, which they did. The competition isn’t over yet, and I hope our girls will continue to make Azerbaijani fans proud.”
