Britain's Yana Rattigan focusing on positives after European Games defeat

Great Britain's Yana Rattigan has insisted that she will take plenty of experience away from her European Games campaign.

The Ukrainian-born wrestler, who now represents Team GB after marrying a British coach, lost her first-round bout in Baku against Oleksandra Kogut.

Despite tasting defeat in the women's freestyle 48kg category, falling 4-1 at the Heydar Aliyev Arena earlier today, Rattigan is keen to focus on the positives.

"Everything was great except that I lost," the 28-year-old told reporters. "I have to learn about my opponents, study them. It is important to know which weaknesses and strengths they have. I will come home with a lot of knowledge for the World Championships."

Asked about her decision to represent Great Britain, she added: "In 2007, I came to England for a competition and I was invited to come back as a training partner as there were not so many girls wrestling in England. So I came back and met Leon [Rattigan].

"But first I was only focused on my wrestling career and did not want a boyfriend. However, he did not give up and we got married in 2010. When I got married my visa status changed and I could not compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"I had no idea, when I found out about this, I cried my eyes out. But I am still happily married, it is the best thing that ever happened to me, but I did not know it would cost me a possible Olympic medal."

Rattigan won a silver medal at last year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.