An all-Cypriot quarterfinal took place in the women’s beach volleyball tournament at the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games “Heraklion 2023”.
On the one side was the duo of Zoe Konstantopoulou and Alexandra Gusarova and on the other there was a same name. It was another Gusarova, Daria, who is playing in the Games as a duo with Erika Nystrom (Gusarova Daria / Nystrom Erika), also for Cyprus.
The Gusarova sisters are athletes of Russian origin, who have both obtained Cypriot citizenship and play for the national team of the country.
The duo of the older sister, Daria (born in 2004) defeated the team of the younger one, Alexandra (born in 2008), in front of their parents, Victor and Elena, who were present at the facilities of the Karteros Beach Sport Center.
“I have been in Cyprus since 2008. In fact Alexandra was born there”, pointed out the father of the two girls, Viktor Gusarova andand continued: “My wife and I chose to leave Moscow and go to Cyprus. It is a very different country from Russia. It is sunny and hot all the time. I like that people there smile all the time. Nicosia, where we live as a family, is like Greece and especially like Crete. I think we made the best choice. Especially at this time, seeing what is happening in Russia, it would be very difficult to live there.”
The Gusarova father is the one who introduced his girls to the sport and taught them the secrets of beach volleyball. In a way, he is also unofficially their common coach, as he knows the game.
“I’ve been involved in volleyball for almost 45 years and the last 15 with beach volleyball. My daughters have come to know and love the sport and I’m glad for that. My children played in Heraklion as opponents. This divided my heart. I didn’t have a particular preference to win. All I cared about was that they enjoyed the game and had fun. Which it did, so for me it’s like. they both won.”
Why don’t the two sisters play on the same team?
“They chose not to play as a duo from the beginning of their careers. They have the same playing characteristics and they want to have another athlete next to them, with a different style from them. Perhaps, in the future, they will become a duo, but it is something they will choose to do. I don’t have a say in their decision,” their father revealed.
Regarding the quarterfinal between in the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games “Heraklion 2023”, Daria emphasized that “I am happy that we qualified for the last four, although we beat my sister, so my joy was tempered. We usually play as opponents. As the older one, however, I usually win!”, she said with a smile.
“Yes it’s true, my big sister beats me most of the time and it’s something I don’t like to happen. It’s the first time, however, that we play opponents in such an important event”, Alexandra admitted.
“We understand the Greek language, but we speak little. Greek is difficult. But I want to say to everyone from the bottom of my heart, that we thank you for the hospitality you provided us in Crete and the perfect organization of the games”, she concluded.
