Top-seed Polina, who participated in the Paris Olympics for Ukraine, handed a 21-19, 21-19 defeat to Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium

For Polina, ranked 69th in the world, the emotional toll of the war remains immense.

Since the political changeover on August 5, a number of international sporting events were moved away from Bangladesh due to the evolving situation. But the country's capital, Dhaka, is now set to host two badminton tournaments this month.

Having fashioned a racket out of cocksheet from a fish container and collected discarded shuttlecocks, then third-grader Mustakim Hossain began his badminton journey in 2014 before his mother, who works as a domestic helper, gifted him a racket worth Tk 250 to provide a real taste of the game.

Sifat Ullah Galib and Mustakim Hossain emerged as champions in the doubles event of the South Asian (U-15 & U-17) Regional Junior Championship, beating an Indian pair in the final in Guwahati.

The Indian men's badminton team today made history by winning their first Thomas Cup title after beating holders and 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final at the Impact Arena in Thailand.

The Daily Star: What are you doing at present?