Displaced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, women's shuttlers Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr have fought to keep their badminton dreams alive. Once based in Kharkiv, near the Russia-Ukraine border, the duo fled shortly after the war began three years ago, leaving behind families still grappling with uncertainties.

"You never know what is going on there. It is always heartbreaking when you talk to your family members. Maybe they are not doing well, maybe they are not safe, or something is going on over there, but you never know clearly," Polina told The Daily Star yesterday, after the top-seeded player defeated Japan's Anna Iwaki 21-16, 13-21, 21-14 in Dhaka to secure her place in the semi-finals of the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge.

Her compatriot Yevheniia also advanced to the last four, overcoming India's Farza Nazrin 21-14, 18-21, 21-12.

"Kharkiv was the most affected area because it is very close to Russia, and it is still bad three years into the war. My father is there because he can't leave Ukraine. My mother and brother are also still in Ukraine," Yevheniia informed.

After leaving Kharkiv, the duo moved to France before settling in Italy, where they now train and compete in international tournaments. Reflecting on their journey, Yevheniia shared how the war disrupted their lives and ambitions.

"When the war started, I needed to find a solution to move beyond the country because it was not possible to practise there. We left Kharkiv five days after the war began. The first month was very bad -- we were always thinking about it, watching the news, and constantly frustrated. But I am now more focused on badminton."

For Polina, ranked 69th in the world, the emotional toll of the war remains immense. Despite the challenges, she holds out hope for peace.

"I want this war to stop soon because it is destroying the country, destroying relationships, and causing so many deaths. So, I want this war to end faster," she urged.