Fetisov called the handshake between a Ukrainian and a Russian woman at AO a historical moment
Two-time Olympic champion in hockey, State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Fetisov appreciated the handshake of Ukrainian Elizaveta Kotlyar and Russian Vlada Mincheva at the Australian Open (AO). His words are quoted by TASS.
“Tennis is beyond politics, and this is precisely the principle that was initially central to the creation of all these organizations, including the International Olympic Committee. In this situation, the innate intelligence worked,” he said. Fetisov called the handshake between the athletes a historical moment that will serve as a beacon in the future.
On January 20, Kotlyar and Mincheva shook hands after the match at the junior AO. The Ukrainian Tennis Federation called the incident a mistake. The tennis player’s father, Konstantin Kotlyar, explained that his daughter could not cope with her emotions.
Ukrainian tennis players usually do not shake hands with Russians and Belarusians and do not take joint photos after matches. In response to this, spectators sometimes boo the athletes.
Source: Lenta
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