Daria fears the current regime in Russia
Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkinawho condemned the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, told why it is now dangerous for her to return home.
“I want to be able to respect myself when I look in the mirror. And if being a good person means I have to sacrifice my home, then that’s my choice. To condemn the war was a big risk. Especially because my parents are still in Russia. But I couldn’t just remain silent and pretend that everything is fine, ”said Kasatkina.
“Now it is dangerous for me to return home, given the existing regime. As a gay person who denounces war, it’s simply impossible to go back. But I don’t regret it even one percent. When the war started and everything turned into hell, I was very covered, and I just decided, they say, to hell with everything. ”
“I couldn’t hide anymore. I wanted to state my position on the war and my sexual orientation. Which was difficult, because of the country I’m from, where being a gay person is unacceptable. But I felt like I was carrying a backpack with stones on my shoulders. I just wanted to throw it away. There were some consequences after that, but the only thing that bothered me was my parents, and they were all right. They are proud of me.”
“Before the start of the war, I never appreciated this opportunity to return home. I always wanted to leave there and live abroad. It’s only when it’s taken from you that you realize how much you need it. I can definitely separate the government from the country that is my homeland, and the bad thing is that even when this war ends, and we don’t know how it will end, especially in Russia, and whether I can return or not. Being yourself wasn’t an easy choice.”
Kasatkina is the 11th racket of the world. On Monday, July 3, Daria will play Caroline Dolehide in the first round of Wimbledon 2023.
Early on the morning of February 24, Russia launched rocket and air strikes on most Ukrainian cities and then launched a full-scale military invasion. The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has been going on for the 494th day.
Source: Sportarena
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
