28/06/2015 10:53
Russia’s golden boy Victor Poletaev happy with bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games
2015 European Games
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 28, 2015. Russia’s top scorer at the Baku 2015 European Games Victor Poletaev is used to winning gold, but is also happy with the bronze medal he claimed on Sunday in Azerbaijan’s capital after edging Poland in the ‘small final’.
Victor Poletaev is the golden boy of Russian Volleyball. In 2013, at that time only 18 years old, he accomplished to win gold in all major tournaments he entered, starting with the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship, the FIVB Men’s U19 World Championship, the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), and the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship. All this in only six months. Last year he added the U20 European title to his personal, already more than impressive resume.
Today at Crystal Hall in Baku, the golden boy settled for the bronze medal at the first ever European Games after Russia edged Poland by 3:1 in the next-to-last act of the competition in Azerbaijan’s capital.
The left-handed opposite was again a major contributor to his team’s success as the 20 year-old scored 22 points in the match.
That brings Victor Poletaev up to 114 points – including 15 aces – in the tournament, making him the undisputed top scorer for the Russian team.
“We wanted to win gold here in Baku, and I think we played well. But with this young team, myself included, it is ok to win bronze. Especially against such strong Polish team,” Poletaev says.
“My dream and wish is to play with the A-team. That is what I want. I have done my best to prove my worth here at the European Games, then we must see if it is enough to be selected,” he adds.
“I have had a good time in Baku. The whole organisation has been terrific; we have enjoyed living in the village together with many athletes from other sports and from as many as 50 different countries.”
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