Former Ukrainian tennis player is willing to “use a firearm” to defend his country

The former Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovski, 36, joined the armed forces to defend his country against the Russian invasion, although he confessed to the BBC on Tuesday that he hopes “not to have to use a firearm”.

“I know how to use a firearm. If I have to, I will. But I hope I don’t have to use a firearm,” he told Radio 4, which belongs to the British public group.

Especially known for having defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, in the 2nd round, Stakhovski hung up his racket after the last Australian Open in January, and returned to Kiev to participate in the defense of his country along with numerous other sports personalities.

For this he had to leave behind, in Hungary, his wife and children.

“I know it’s very hard for my wife, my children don’t know I’m here. They don’t understand the war. They are too young,” he explained.

The former boxing world champion, Vasiliy Lomachenko, photographed in uniform and with a submachine gun slung over his shoulder, and Oleksandr Usyk, the current WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion, would also have committed themselves to the defense forces. from Ukraine.

British boxer Tyson Fury, holder of the WBC premier class belt, welcomed Usyk’s decision during a news conference on Tuesday ahead of his fight with compatriot Dillian Whyte in late April.

Ukrainian boxing and sports legend Vitali Klitschko, the current mayor of Kiev, will also take part in the fights.

smg-hap/smr/iga

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