Ukrainian students win 4 medals at the European Badminton Championships among higher education institutions

Silver and 3 bronze medals are the achievements of our badminton players who represented Ukrainian student sport at the competitions in Hungary.

This was reported by the Committee on Physical Education and Sports of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Vyacheslav Yakovlev from the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding in Mykolaiv became the silver medallist in the men's singles. He also won bronze in the mixed doubles with Valeria Rudakova.

Students from Mykolaiv also took third place in the team competition. In addition to Viacheslav and Valeria, the team included Valeria Masailo, Daria Poyda, Volodymyr Koluzaiev and Igor Kalinichenko.

In the girls' doubles competition, Anastasia Erokhina and Varvara Frolova from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute took bronze.

Valeria Rudakova, student of the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding: "The team tournament and the mixtape were very cool, where we took third place. In the pair with Valeria Masailo, we took fifth place - not bad, but it could have been better, just like in the singles. I was injured and therefore could not show my highest level. However, overall I am very happy with this tournament. There was a great atmosphere. I want to come back next year to win gold medals in all categories."

"Badminton is one of the most popular and interesting sports in Ukraine, and not only among pupils and students. It is popular and accessible, because you can play badminton literally anywhere, not necessarily in a gym. You just need rackets and a shuttlecock and go for it," says Vadym Stetsenko, Chairman of the Committee on Physical Education and Sports of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

"As for the sporting component itself, the number of people willing to try their hand at this sport is also growing: just look at the number of participants in the Universiades and Gymnasiums of Ukraine. And thanks to the high level of competition, we have such a brilliant result in the international arena. I am sincerely grateful to the student-athletes, coaches, rectors, teachers and everyone who contributed to this achievement!" said Vadym Stetsenko.

We would also like to mention another Ukrainian woman who performed well at the European Championships: she became the singles champion and silver medallist in the mixed doubles and women's doubles. This is Maria Stolyarenko, who played for the University of Strasbourg (France). Mariia is a member of the Ukrainian national team (she made her debut in the senior team at the age of 16). She started playing badminton at the age of 6 while studying at Kharkiv Lyceum of Arts No. 133. She studied at the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, but left the country after the start of the full-scale invasion. She temporarily lives and trains in Strasbourg.