Captain of the women's national volleyball team, Hristina Vuchkova, admitted after returning from the World Championship in Thailand that the team was deeply disappointed with their performance and especially with the loss against Spain. She emphasized that this is the real level of the team at the moment and that expectations for the squad are probably higher than its capabilities.

Vuchkova explained that the problem is systemic – the Bulgarian championship does not offer enough competition and quality to build a strong national team. "We played with what we had. That was the maximum. I tried to help and set an example, but apparently my strength was not enough," she said, quoted by BTA.

The captain added that the athletes themselves experience disappointment and criticism much more severely than the fans: "We also bore this shame. No one went there to disgrace Bulgaria."

Despite the difficult results, Vuchkova expressed her pride in being captain and stated that she hopes the new generation, including the "golden girls" from the junior formations, will bring future successes to Bulgarian volleyball.