The President has awarded the Order "For Merits" to world chess champion among women in 2015 Mariya Muzychuk. Awarding the order, the President has emphasized the importance of her victory for the entire Ukraine. "I would like to thank you for this fantastic victory. It is an additional pleasure that you have beaten Russia in the final. It is very symbolic. I wish we struggle and pray for the victories only in sports as soon as possible, for peace to finally come to our land," Petro Poroshenko said.
The Head of State has congratulated Mariya and her parents-coaches on the bright victory at the World Championship in Sochi (Russia). "I am proud that a true Ukrainian has become the world champion, the chess queen. I am sure that you will have a lot of victories in the future. Thank you," the President noted.
The President noted that he had been personally rooting for the athlete. And so did the entire country. "I can assure you that both I and people not familiar with chess have been passionately rooting for you," he said.
The President noted not only Mariya's talent, but also perseverance of her parents – Mr. Oleh and Mrs. Natalia, who are training their daughters: Mariya and her sister Hanna, who is the winner of the World Blitz Championship 2014. "It seems to me that not only Ukraine, but also the entire world was rooting for our country at that moment," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
Mariya Muzychuk has thanked the President for the kind words and noted that not only Ukrainians or representatives of other countries, but also Russians had been supporting her at the championship.
Mother of the champion Natalia Muzychuk has emphasized that they had felt a powerful support from the Ukrainian nation. "We didn't expect so many people to watch the broadcast, for it usually lasts up to 5 hours," she said.
In the course of the meeting, Mariya Muzychuk and her parents have discussed the issue of holding the return match in Ukraine in order to defend the title against former world champion Hou Yifan (China). The match is to be held by the end of the year. Muzychuks family suggested holding the match in Lviv.