Ukrainian Shuttlers Highlight Pain and Resilience at World Badminton Championships
By Bhagya Ayyavoo
Ukrainian Athletes Compete Amidst Ongoing Conflict
Showcasing Resilience on the World Stage
NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - For Ukrainian shuttlers Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr, competing at the ongoing World Championships in New Delhi is a way to showcase the resilience of a country battling the invasion by Russia.
Lives have been turned upside down since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and as for many of her compatriots, the conflict remains an everyday reality for Buhrova.
Buhrova’s Experience: Pride and Power Amid Hardship
"It's still really, really bad," the Kharkiv-born player told reporters.
"It's really hard, but that also gives me a lot of power and I'm really proud to represent my country as a fighter, and show how Ukraine is fighting, believing and growing."
Training Challenges and Relocation
Buhrova said elite training had become impossible in Ukraine, forcing the national squad to find a base in Italy.
"When the war started, I was in Ukraine," she said. "We were practising under the bombs. An alarm would go and you needed to throw everything on the floor and run to the shelter."
Kantemyr’s Perspective: Competing for National Pride
Her doubles partner Kantemyr, who left Ukraine as a teenager and is also now based in Italy, said being able to compete internationally carried added significance.
"We're happy that we can represent (Ukraine) at a high level and show good results and make the country proud," she said.
International Olympic Committee’s Decision and Reactions
IOC Lifts Suspension of Russian Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last month provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, a significant step towards Russia's return ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Kantemyr’s Criticism of the IOC Move
Kantemyr called it "a big mistake" by the IOC, adding she held nothing personal against individual competitors.
IOC’s Stance on Athletes and Support for Ukraine
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has said athletes should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments and that the Olympic body would continue supporting Ukraine while not condoning war.
Event Details
The World Championships run through August 23 in New Delhi.
(Writing by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and David Holmes)
