Polina Buhrova, 21 years old, and Yevheniia Kantemyr, 20, were opponents in Kiev: now they are roommates, coached by Gloria Pirvanescu and her husband Luca Crippa (from Monza), decisive in the blitz that took them to Italy
The guerra it upset their lives, distanced their families, destroyed their schools and the facilities where they trained, but it did not imprison their dreams. Which now sprout, in a new city. When Polina Buhrova, 21 years old and Yevheniia Kantemyr, 20, stars of the Ukrainian badminton national team, they trained at Kiev, they played for two opposing clubs. Today they are roommates, they live in Cinisello Balsamo and continue their athletic training under the guidance of their coach Gloria Pirvanescu and her husband Luca Crippa, originally from Monza, technical director of the Ukrainian national team since 2020.
The athletes train at the Palacooper in Cinisellosharing the court with the volleyball teams. Before badminton did not exist in Cinisello: who knows whether this seed will bear new fruit. Polina participated in the Paris Olympics. In Yevheniia’s palmares, however, international championships. «We have just returned from a tournament in India, but we are about to leave again for the European team championships in Portugal”they explain. «I discovered badminton when I was 10 years old, because it was played in my school» says Polina. «But I used to do synchronized swimming» adds Yevheniia.
When it started the Russian invasion, Polina was with her club in Dnipro for the National Cup. She managed to take refuge in the Czech Republic with teammates. Yevheniia, however, injured her knee, was at home. I’m with his mom and brother expats in Slovakia. To date Around 130 Ukrainian badminton athletes have been displaced across Europe.
Two years ago, Luca and Gloria – who were in Italy at the outbreak of the conflict (for the wedding banns) – managed to bring the girls to Cinisello. The three historic cooperatives of Cinisello – UniAbita, Diaz and Nostra Casa – lent a hand accommodation available. The future of the two champions will be in Italy. «We are grateful to Cinisello who welcomed us and we are learning Italian – they say -. We went to San Siro to see a Milan match. And then we visited Florence, Turin, Como, Naples…”. Polina also continues her studies, remotely, at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute.
Crippa tells their typical day: «First training from 9 to 11.30. Back in the gym from 2pm to 4.30pm. Then straight to the weight room.” «Badminton is an extremely technical sport – he adds -. They they are facing the transition from junior to senior category which requires a methodological change. Ukrainian athletes are very strong in the junior category. As soon as possible we go to train in Asia: why the Asian school is one of the most important». The objectives? «They are necessarily short-term: anything can happen, even that their national team no longer receives funds and can no longer afford to participate in competitions. But now we know that the house and the gym will be there forever, here in Cinisello, and this is already a great fixed point in their lives.” “We would like to qualify for Los Angeles and represent our country,” Polina and Yevheniia say in unison.
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