Tengrinews.kz ▶ “We are ready to fight”: VK “Altai” players about the upcoming World Cup: December 15, 2021, 09:00 ▶ Read more about the latest news and events on the site.
We are ready to fight: VK Altai players about the upcoming World Cup December 15, 2021, 09:00
Ust-Kamenogorsk women's club Altai kindled the interest of Kazakhstanis in volleyball after a resounding victory in the Asian club championship. Not having time to enjoy their triumph, the players immediately began preparing for the Club World Cup in Ankara. The first fight Altai will take place with the Brazilian Minas today at 18.00.
The captain Sana Anarkulova, Kristina Anikonova, Madina Beket and the head coach of the club Marko Grisic spoke about preparations for the championship.
Asian Champions
– You recently won a historic victory for the club in the Asian Championship. What emotions did you experience during the tournament?
Sanaa: The Asian Club Championship was very important for us because we tried to win it many times. This time we were preparing intentionally, we had to win.
Christina: It was interesting and highly anticipated. We missed one season due to covid and could not miss the chance to perform well in this championship.
Madina: For me it was a completely new level and a new experience. It was the first time I competed in such an arena, and also the first libero.
Sana Anarkulova – captain of the team Altai-1
– With what attitude did you go to the championship?
Marco: We did not expect victory in advance. Upon arrival, we simply decided to take the tournament step by step. And the better we did, the more we believed.
Sanaa: We were expecting it to be hard. We knew that there would be a struggle, and we were preparing to go to victory through pain, through sweat.
Madina: The coach said that we must believe in ourselves. And of course we believed.
Marko Grisic – head coach of Altai-1
– This time there were fewer participating federations than usual. Did it make things easier for you?
Sanaa: Because of the coronavirus, teams such as Japan and China did not come, but there were other rivals.
Marco: We won two Thai teams that we hadn't beaten before. For us, this is an important achievement.
World Champions
– What is your mood before the world club championship?
Christina: Fantastic! It will be hard, but we are ready to fight.
Madina: We'll show you what we're capable of!
Kristina Anikonova – forward Altai-1
– What is needed to bring volleyball in Kazakhstan to a new level?
Marco: I would like to see more legionnaires. They raise the level of the team through their experience.
Sanaa: There are many promising girls in the backup teams. We already have a smooth change of generations, it would be great to see this in other clubs.
Madina Becket is the best libero of the Asian club championship
Recall that at the beginning of the month, Altai announced a partnership with the No. 1 online bookmaker in Kazakhstan – Parimatch. The brand's logo will appear on the team's jersey and the club's home court.