BWF Worlds: Displaced by war, Yevheniia and Polina keep Ukraine's flag flying high
Ukrainian badminton players Yevheniia Kantemyr and Polina Buhrova were forced to flee their war-torn hometown of Kharkiv to continue their careers in Italy. Despite personal loss and displacement, they are competing at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, proudly representing Ukraine and voicing strong opposition to Russian athletes' participation in sport.
Two Ukrainian badminton players, Yevheniia Kantemyr and Polina Buhrova, continue to represent their nation at the BWF World Championships despite being displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both players relocated from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to continue their badminton careers. Kantemyr, now 21, moved to France and then Italy, while Buhrova, 22, traversed Thailand, Malaysia, Denmark, and Italy to establish a training base in Italy.
The duo, who compete together in women's doubles, have faced numerous challenges due to the ongoing conflict. Kantemyr, a former synchronised swimmer, turned to badminton when her piano teacher suggested she pursue a sport to improve her stage presence. Buhrova, on the other hand, switched her focus from music to badminton due to her dissatisfaction with how she appeared on stage.
Despite the hardships they have endured, Kantemyr and Buhrova remain proud to represent Ukraine on the international stage. They have expressed their disapproval of allowing Russian athletes to compete in international events, stating that some of them may have participated in activities that are not honorable. The two Ukrainian players firmly believe that Russian athletes should remain in their homes and show gratitude for the support of their government and people.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
