Teenager Iulian Boiko would fight at home in Ukraine if he was old enough

Ukrainian teenager Iulian Boiko said he would swap his snooker cue for a gun and join the fight against Russia in his homeland if he was old enough.

Boiko, 16, who reached the second round of the Welsh Open in Newport this week, spoke with a deep sense of pride about his country’s sports stars who have taken up arms.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Boiko’s home city Kyiv, his brother Wladimir, and current world boxing champions Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk are among those who have joined the fight.

Boiko told the PA news agency: “I’m really proud of all the soldiers, all of the Ukrainian army, including Usyk and top boxers, including football players, and players from all sports.

“All of the professional sportsmen, most of them are fighting now for our country. It’s impossible not to be proud because they are amazing.

“If I was a bit older I would do they same. The only way to destroy the enemy is for everyone to unite and stand as one.”

Boiko, based at the Victoria Snooker Academy in Sheffield, had watched his home city come under attack from Russian troops on television before fighting back to beat Liam Davies 4-3 earlier this week in the first round at the Welsh Open.

He said: “I tried my best. When I was 3-0 down my game was not to the standard that I’m used to. I was not playing very well.

“But I was just thinking of all the people who are now trying to protect our nation. I tried to fight and give my best and fortunately I came out as a winner in the end.”

Boiko, whose mother and father have been reunited in Poland after fleeing Ukraine, said he had been happier with his performance in a 4-0 second-round defeat to world number 11 Mark Allen.

But he said it had been