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27 September, 2014
05 October
Tatyana Troina (BLR)
18/09/2014
News
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Troina accepts Belarus challenge in Istanbul

MINSK (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Tatyana Troina is acutely aware of the scale of the task facing Belarus when they take to the court in Istanbul at the FIBA World Championship for Women.

The veteran has warned her team face an uphill struggle to overcome some major absences and get anywhere near to their outstanding last four finish at the tournament four years ago in Czech Republic.

Belarus will compete without their major defensive powerhouse in forward Anastasiya Verameyenka, as well as the reliable Marina Kress - two players who leave a seriously major void in the paint.

While Belarus might feel they have opportunities to still progress in Group C against Australia, Cuba and Korea, Troina is cautious about her team's prospects.

"Considering the situation with our team this year, I don't think any group would be easy for us," she said.

"We are missing some key players and it brings some problems to our game.

"But having said that, we don't give up and we have what we have this year and we still will do our best."

Many people are hoping that the emergence of some younger players such as Maryia Papova might lighten the load in the absence of Verameyenka and Kress, but Troina is being realistic an eager not to put too much pressure on the likes of Papova.

"Like I said, missing those girls is a problem and honestly, it's so difficult," stressed the 33-year-old.

"I would even say it is impossible to replace them with any kind of players.

"Masha's (Papova) biggest problem is to find herself on the floor.

"She needs to decide whether she is going to play as a big post player type girl, or whether she will be a shooter and kill it from the mid-range, sometimes shooting triples.

"Once she sticks to one of those, her game will improve so much more, because she is a skilled girl  - that's for sure."

As for making the last four of the competition in Karlovy Vary, so much water has passed under the bridge since then for Troina, she isn't able to rely on past glories too much - having sustained a torn ACL late in 2012.

"I only really remember two games - the ones against Russia and against Czech Republic," said the Minsk native.

"Everything else is kind of faded.

"I think an injury of that kind is a setback and a disappointment for anybody - no matter whether it meant missing EuroBasket Women or not.

"When you have effectively only one healthy leg, your priority comes down to getting well as soon as possible. You really don't think about missing games.

"I am okay now although my recovery took some time and some nerves - I am back on the court, but the injury reminds me of itself from time to time."

Whatever happens in Istanbul, Troina is simply looking forward to pulling on a national team vest at a major tournament again.

It's been three years since she last did so and that ended in tears when Belarus went prematurely crashing out of EuroBasket Women 2011.

"These past four years have flown by for me and went so fast," she said.

"I can't even decide exactly what my feelings are right now. It's like 'Hey, it's a FIBA World Championship!'

"Turkey is a sports country and a lot of people love basketball there, so I think and hope the arenas will be full of fans and it will be cool to play in front of many people."

After a slow start to their preparation programme, Troina and Co followed up a win against China in Minsk, with a morale boosting 65-63 triumph against Turkey to take second place in the Khalipski Cup.

FIBA