1 month in to her rehab from surgery to repair her ACL, Russian National Team member and Galatasaray (Turkey) professional Tatyana Kosheleva has set a timetable for her return to the volleyball court.
In an interview with Russian state-run sports outlet RSport, Kosheleva described her rehab and discussed her timetable to return to the court. She says that her doctors and physical therapists believe that she can be fully ready for volleyball by August, with the possibility of some activities starting earlier. That would leave her then a further month to prepare with the Russian National Team before the September 29th start of the FIVB World Championships in Japan.
She’s currently training about 3 hours in the morning and evening, plus another 2 hours during the day, more-or-less every day of the week. She said that she was able to walk without crutches 3 weeks after her surgery.
The 29-year old outside hitter Kosheleva has been a member of the Russian National Team since 2007. She tore her knee ligament in mid-March, and missed the end of the Turkish regular season with Galatasaray.
Without her, 3rd-seeded Galatasaray was still able to advance to the semi-finals of the Turkish playoffs, but they were swept twice by 4th-seed Fenerbahce in the 3rd-place matchup. They were upset by the hosts CSM Voley Alba Blaj in the Champions League Final 4 semi-finals, and then swept by Italian side Conegliano in the bronze medal match.
While there’s some clarity about Kosheleva’s rehab now, where she’ll play next season is up in the air. She said that Galatasaray has made a contract offer to extend her with the team next season. She has not committed to return to the club, but says that she’s grateful for the offer and the support of the club to consider bringing her back. That includes bringing her with the team to Bucharest for the Champions League Final 4.
The club is already losing two of its key players to retirement after this season: Seda Aslanyurek and Neslihan Demir have both announced their retirements. Demir was Galatasaray’s captain.
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