by Alex Hoad at the Paralympic Games

There was no dream start for Claire Harvey and the GB women’s sitting volleyball team on Friday morning, but they did make history.

GB suffered a straight sets defeat at the hands of Ukraine, ranked third in the world, at ExCeL, but the clash did mark their first appearance in the event at a Paralympic Games.

The hosts made a slow start, going 6-0 down on their way to losing the opening set 25-9 before rallying.

The second set was far tighter and the Ukrainians edged it 25-20, despite GB coming back from 20-10 down, before the visitors claimed the third set 25-14 after taking a 10-2 lead.

Medway-born Harvey, 38, (pictured) who now lives in Ashford, admitted: “It was always going to be a tough game.

“We came here with a realistic outlook. We were going to fight for every ball, give it the best game we could and compete at every opportunity. I think we did that today.”

Head coach Steve Jones, added: “I was very pleased with the girls. I thought they really dug in deep. Ukraine are a very difficult team to play and we didn’t embarrass ourselves at all.

“I thought the second set particularly was the result of them being loose, letting it go and really feeling they can play the game.”

One of the highest profile members of the team is Martine Wright, survivor of the July 7th London bombings, who received some of the loudest cheers of the morning.

GB’s second group game is against old foes the Netherlands at 4pm on Saturday.