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Ukrainian handball player given Russian passport

The passport was given following the first match between Russia and Poland at the qualification games for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio

© ITAR-TASS/Vitaly Belousov

ASTRAKHAN, March 18. /TASS/. Ukraine-born handball player Yulia Managarova became a Russian citizen as vice-premier Dmitry Rogozin handed her passport on Friday.

The passport was given following the first match between Russia and Poland at the qualification games for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio that took place in Russia’s south city of Astrakhan.

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"She is a Russian citizen," Rogozin said. "She has become a new hope of our team. Her will to become a Russian citizen was backed by the president."

"The team dedicated today’s game to Sevastopol and Crimea’s reunification with Russia," he said.

Managarova did not take place in the match.

The player’s decision to get the Russian citizenship was announced in January. She played 48 games for the Ukrainian national team. Managarova participated in European and World championships.

She has been playing for Russia's Rostov-Don handball club since 2013.

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