“I’m not going anywhere”- World’s oldest tennis player Leonid Stanislavskyi puts on a brave front to stay in Ukraine war-zone
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Leonid Stanislavskyi
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected numerous civilians in the war-torn country. With hundreds dying daily, scores injured and people fleeing to take refugee in other countries, the lives of the Ukrainians have fallen into jeopardy in midst of the crisis.
Leonid Stanislavskyi, 97, who holds the record for the world’s oldest tennis player, is one of the Ukrainians whose life has been affected by the war. He has decided to stay in his country and hopes the war soon comes to an end. The veteran, who resided in Kharkiv, is adamant about not going anywhere despite the missiles and bombings which are being rained on by the Russians and hoped to become a centenarian after the war ends.
“The war started on (February) 24th. From the 24th till now I have practically not gone out. I’ve stayed at home… I have supplies, the fridge is full. I’m sitting at home, not going anywhere. My daughter Tanya is in Poland, she wants to take me there. But I decided to stay here. I have bad hearing so I sleep at night and don’t hear anything. Last night there were bombings, in the morning there were air-raid sirens again. I hope I live to reach 100. I have to survive this frightening situation,” he told in an interview with Reuters.
Stanislavsky was part of the Soviet army who fought nazis and survived the second world war. The Ukrainian veteran said he never thought he would have to see such harrowing scenes again and was distressed that even in the 21st century such vile acts of supremacy are being displayed.
“I never thought that I would have to live through another, more frightening war where people from both sides are dying — mothers are losing their children, wives are losing their sons and their husbands. What is this? What good is it? In the 21st century there can’t be war. The war needs to be stopped, an agreement has to be reached,” he added.
“I’m hoping that the war will end and I will be able to play tennis“- Stanislavskyi
Stanislavskyi began playing tennis at the age of 30 and has been playing amateur tennis ever since He holds an ITF license and has participated in several World and European championships. He once proclaimed that to face Roger Federer is his ultimate goal. While he is yet to meet the Swiss maestro, Stanislavsky has met Rafael Nadal, when the Spaniard invited him to his academy last year. Stanislavsky said he hopes that he can resume playing tennis soon after the war ends.
“Tennis is my life, my destiny. I’ve played tennis at a serious level since I was 90, I’ve played abroad, I’ve played in World Championships, I’ve played in the European Championships. I’m not afraid of anyone, I’m hoping that the war will end and I will be able to play tennis. If I could get (to Poland) I would play there. But I decided to stay at home and wait for the end of the war,” he said.
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T Rushitha
(360 Articles Published)