Upon arrival in her native Kyrgyzstan for the first time in eight years, Valentina Shevchenko was given a hero’s welcome by fans, fighters, and politicians alike.
Flanked by her coach Pavel Fedotov and her mother, Shevchenko arrived at the Manas airport on April 7, where she was greeted by swarms of journalists, hundreds of fans, and Deputy Prime Minister Altynai Omurbekova. The UFC flyweight champion was presented with a bouquet of flowers, treated to flat cake, and escorted to a private motorcade that took her to the city.
On April 8, Shevchenko met with the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, as well as parliament speaker Dastanbek Jumabekov.