New Delhi – On the courts of the 2026 Badminton World Championships, Ukrainian shuttlers Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr are competing not only for medals but to illustrate the resilience of a nation still fighting an invasion.
Training amid conflict
Buhrova, a native of Kharkiv, described how the war forced her to abandon regular training in Ukraine. “When the war started, I was in Ukraine. We were practising under the bombs. An alarm would go and you needed to throw everything on the floor and run to the shelter,” she told reporters. With elite facilities unavailable, the Ukrainian national squad relocated its base to Italy, allowing the athletes to continue preparing for international competition.
Personal motivation
Both athletes said representing Ukraine gives them a sense of purpose beyond sport. Buhrova explained, “It’s still really, really bad. 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.” Kantemyr, who left Ukraine as a teenager and now also trains in Italy, added, “We’re happy that we can represent Ukraine at a high level and show good results and make the country proud.”
International context
The championships, running through August 23, occur as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently moved to provisionally lift its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, a step that many Ukrainian athletes view with concern. Kantemyr called the IOC decision “a big mistake,” though she emphasized she holds no personal grievance against individual Russian competitors.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has reiterated that athletes should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments, and the organization says it will continue to support Ukraine while not condoning war.
Impact on the sport
For the badminton community, the presence of Ukrainian athletes underscores how global conflicts can affect even seemingly distant arenas like international sport. Their stories bring attention to the broader human cost of war and the role of sport in offering a platform for resilience and hope.
As the tournament progresses, Buhrova and Kantemyr hope their performances will inspire both their compatriots at home and fans worldwide, reminding everyone that perseverance can thrive even in the darkest circumstances.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
