Ukrainian basketball players won two medals at the World University Basketball 3v3 Championship

The World 3v3 Basketball Championship among higher education institutions has ended in the Qatari city of Doha. The men's and women's brackets included 12 teams each, which became the best at the championships of their respective continents.

Ukraine was represented by teams from Sumy State University (men) and Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (women). Both teams went the distance almost simultaneously: they confidently won their subgroups, won the quarterfinals, but lost in the semifinals.

In the bronze medal match, the Ukrainian women - Anzhelika Liashko, Daria Kononuchenko, Anastasia Kovtun and Bohdana Lapkhan - defeated the University of Pitesti (Romania) 17-10.

The boys - Ivan Filonenko, Rodion Kuzmin, Maksym Mykhailov, and Ilya Koshevatsky - won their medal in a tense confrontation with the University of Paulista (Brazil) - 20:18.

"World Championship medals are actually a very powerful achievement! However, this is not a surprise, because Ukrainian students have been showing good results in 3-on-3 basketball for many years. High competition at the national level contributes to the progress. Despite the war and the difficult situation in the country, more and more teams are taking part in the Universiade, and not only from specialized sports and physical education universities," said Vadym Stetsenko, Chairman of the Committee on Physical Education and Sports of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

He noted that this result could not have been achieved without the Armed Forces of Ukraine, "thanks to which this performance was made possible."

For his part, Yaroslav Yatsiv, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, also thanked the Ukrainian soldiers for "the opportunity to represent the state at such important sporting events and demonstrate that we are a strong nation."

He also expressed his gratitude for the help of FISU, the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Rector of Stefanyk University Ihor Tsependa "for training and supporting the team" and the Basketball Federation of Ukraine, which facilitated the training of the players.

He admitted that he was overwhelmed with emotions and noted that the tournament was probably the best we've ever been to.

Of course, we are happy with the result! But the girls and the coach are a little bit reproachful for the semifinal match, in which they failed to beat the Mexicans," Yatsiv said.

He also praised the boys' team for "showing character and getting their well-deserved rewards."