The Flying Russian Wing

GWANGJU – “She didn`t gain the reputation as the best junior right wing handballer that easy.” Says Anna Vyakhireva (RUS)`s coach.

Anna or as she likes her friends to call her ‘Anya’, was born on the 13^th of March, 1995, in Volgograd, Russia. She comes from a humble labor family, both of her parents used to work to provide a sufficient life for her and her elder sister who is also a handballer.

Anya says she started playing handball from an early age, she was 9 years old when her father used to take her and her sister to the court teaching them how to play handball, and they didn`t let him down. She started her career as a right back, but now she is one of the best right wings in the world.

The 2013 European Junior Championship 2013 is the moment of her pride, when she played with the Russian national team against host country Denmark in the semi-final, the game went to two additional overtimes, but at the end of the game she scored the winning goal, which later brought them to be the champions of the same tournament.

Funny thing is when asked about any hard times or difficulties during her career she answered saying: No, thanks to God, I didn`t have any difficulties or injuries in my career, and I pray for this to last till the end of it.

Anya helped her team beating their neighbor Slovakia 29-14. Hoping that she can help her team to win the Universiade gold which is an important goal. “Winning such a Tournament can be a life changing point in any player`s life”, she commented.

Mahmoud Khairy (EGY), FISU Young Reporter