Ukrainian badminton players Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr are competing at the World Championships in New Delhi as a way to showcase their country's resilience against Russia's invasion, which has disrupted their lives and training since 2022. The conflict remains an everyday reality for many Ukrainians, with Buhrova describing it as "still really, really bad". Both players have relocated from Ukraine to Italy due to the war, and Kantemyr expressed concern about the International Olympic Committee's decision to provisionally lift its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. The World Championships are set to continue through August 23.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
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Story summary
Polina Buhrova, a Ukrainian shuttler from Kharkiv, spoke about the pain of war while competing at the World Championships in New Delhi. She and her doubles partner Yevheniia Kantemyr have had to adapt to their lives being turned upside down since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Buhrova, who was practicing under bombs when the war started, now trains with the national squad in Italy, where they've found a base due to the impossibility of elite training in Ukraine. The two shuttlers are proud to represent their country as fighters and showcase its resilience. According to Buhrova, "it's still really, really bad" and a reality for many Ukrainians, but also gives them power and motivation to compete internationally. This added significance is what drives Kantemyr, who left Ukraine as a teenager and now trains in Italy with the national squad. The duo hopes their performance will demonstrate Ukraine's strength and determination amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Written for “War Tensions at Badminton Tournament” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.70 for article 1329 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-25
Ukrainian shuttlers voice pain of war at World Championships
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shuttlers → voice → Championships
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.
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competing → compete → 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.
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conflict → turn → Buhrova
"It's still really, really bad," the Kharkiv-born player told reporters.
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player → bear → 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."
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Ukraine → give → fighter
Buhrova said elite training had become impossible in Ukraine, forcing the national squad to find a base in Italy.
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training → say → Italy
"When the war started, I was in Ukraine," she said.
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she → start → Ukraine
"We were practising under the bombs.
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We → practise → bombs
An alarm would go and you needed to throw everything on the floor and run to the shelter."
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you → go → shelter
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.
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being → leave → significance
"We're happy that we can represent (Ukraine) at a high level and show good results and make the country proud," she said.
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she → represent → results
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.
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Committee → lift → Games
Kantemyr called it "a big mistake" by the IOC, adding she held nothing personal against individual competitors.
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she → call → competitors
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.
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body → say → war
The World Championships run through August 23 in New Delhi.
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Championships → run → Delhi
