Israel’s Lina Glushko found it hard to focus on tennis when the Israel-Hamas war raged on.
While on tour, Glushko worried for the safety of her friends and family back home, and faced a personal loss early in the conflict. “All my friends went to army service as soon as the war started. I lost friends in the war. I had a friend who died the day the war started. It has been very tough,” Glushko said, after winning her doubles quarterfinal at the USD 1,00,000 KPB Trust Women’s Open here alongside Russian partner Anastasia Tikhonova.
Russia’s Anastasia Tikhonova (left) and Israeli’s Lina Glushko (right), during the KPB Trust Women’s Open at KSLTA Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
K MURALI KUMAR/THE HINDU
Russia’s Anastasia Tikhonova (left) and Israeli’s Lina Glushko (right), during the KPB Trust Women’s Open at KSLTA Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
K MURALI KUMAR/THE HINDU
Glushko had served a mandatory two years with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
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Glushko hopes that the recent ceasefire will eventually lead to long-term peace. “In my country, it never stops because we have conflict all the time. My friends and family are there, so I’m obviously under stress about them all the time. It’s really sad to say that I’m kind of used to it (conflict), because this is not the first war we have had. We have it constantly. I just hope that things settle down soon and get better all over the world, not just in our country. I want peace everywhere,” the 25-year-old said.
At times, Glushko has had to conceal her nationality to stay safe. “When I play a tournament, I have my Israel flag next to my name, so I cannot hide it. However, when I go to countries that are against Israel, if I’m alone in the street, I try to hide my identity,” she said.
On the court, there is added motivation to perform well. “When I’m on the court I try to bring a bit of happiness and good news to my country and to my family,” Glushko said.
