Russian Athletes Rublev, Ovechkin stands against war
Russian athlete Andrey Rublev wrote ‘No War Please’ in a moment caught by the TV camera. He advanced to the final at the Dubai Championships.
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Dubai: After advancing to the final at the Dubai Championship on Friday, Russian athlete Andrey Rublev wrote ‘No War please’ on the camera when it panned its eyes towards him. NHL star Alex Ovechkin, a fellow Russian passed on the same sentimental statement in the United States of America.
Andrey Rublev, the seventh-ranked Russian Tennis player had just beaten Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz (3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)) in the semi-final when he sent his message. It is a common practice after the matches.
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Russian troops bore down on the Ukraine capital on Friday as a part of an invasion that catered to so much fear among the Ukrainians. However, after making the statement on camera, the Russian athlete faced no further questions during the on-court interview. The interview took place immediately after the match.
Ovechkin, one of the top Russian athletes in the United States of America, made a plea against the war as well. He passed the same statement as Rublev while talking to the press reporters after practice in Philadelphia. He said that he has family and friends in Russia and Ukraine and also hopes that the attack will end soon as well.
Ovechkin specifically said, “Please, no more war,” on Friday. He also added that it doesn’t matter who wins the war, Russia, Ukraine, or any other country. He thinks that it would be better if the world is at peace.
He has been a vocal advocate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ovechkin launched the ‘Putin Team’ as he said was not related to the election but rather a show of support. When asked about his relationship with Putin, the Russian athlete commented that he is not into politics and Putin is just his president.
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev’s statement
Another Russian athlete Daniil Medvedev spoke at the Mexico Open on Thursday as he woke up to the news of the war. He said waking up in Mexico watching the news from home was not easy for him. He said he wishes to promote peace all over as a tennis player. It is not easy to hear this news and he is all in for peace, Medvedev added.
Rublev will face the Czech qualifier, Jiri Vesely for the first time in the final that will take place in Dubai on Saturday.
Vesely thrashed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, followed by a win on Denis Shapovalov (6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3)) in a match that lasted 3 hours.
