Natalia Bondarenko about her own home square for squash

Natalia, hostess of a cottage (Kyiv) with her own home square for squash. Her family completed the construction of the court in 2014 and every year since then gathers at home professional squash players and amateurs for the doubles tournament "Rocket". The home court allowed Natalia and her family, passionate fans of racket sports, to gather friends and relatives at home for a useful and active pastime. What it's like to have your own court at home, kindly told the Squash Federation of Ukraine - Natalia Bondarenko!

- Hello, Natalia. Please tell, who from your sports family came up with the idea to build a squash court?

- This crazy idea came to my mind. I played tennis as a child. I loved this sport very much, but it so happened that at the age of 14 the opportunity disappeared and I picked up the racket again when the children grew up. Took them to the court. They "did not come", and I stayed. Sometimes she played with a coach and on weekends with friends. When we moved out of town, it became possible to build a court on the site. We took advantage of this moment :) So, I played there, our friends and Dad. In a few years, my friends joined me in badminton. I played for them at home and in the Grand Prix club. A man joined me here. He also got badminton :) And finally, 8 years ago, an employee at work showed me squash. From the first time the game captivated me :) How so? I play tennis, badminton, and it's not that I don't understand where the ball is flying, so I just can't get on it! I could not survive this!

- How many years have passed since the beginning of the construction of a sports ground in your own backyard?

- And just on this day the architect brought us the final design of the indoor tennis court. We were going to build it on the football field on our site. In 2000 it was made for children and since then they have been constantly playing there with them and their friends. But the children grew up and a year passed as the playground stood idle. So the idea arose to make an indoor court with markings for badminton. And what happened? I come to the office, where the architect has laid out the drawings and defends the project. We had to intervene and announce that the plans have changed and we will not build a tennis court, but Squash and badminton. This is a completely different project needed :( The architect is shocked. The man smiled and said that if I want so, then so be it :) After this phrase, the architect could only ask how he lives with me? Many letters :) But it was. Construction began in autumn 2013. Graduated in May 2014.

- If not a secret, how much did it cost to build a sports ground?

- I won't tell the cost of a platform, I don't remember. We chose the golden mean so that it was comfortable and by all standards, but without unnecessary frills.

- The area of ​​the site, apparently, takes up a lot of space? What company has taken the courage to build squash courts in a private home?

- I didn't count :) The project was made by a familiar architect who helped us before - Taras Pukalo. And, I must say, he did an incredible project. And he also controlled all the construction.

- Why did you decide to build a court, a sports ground in the house?

- Because we have a very active lifestyle, and trips around the city for training and sparring take too much time. And so you can start training at 6 am :)

- After the construction of the court at your home, did you stop attending squash in other clubs?

- Yes, they stopped. Now friends come to play with us.

- How often do you play squash at home?

- At first they played almost every day. Now a couple of times a week. We use a badminton field every day. The grandchildren have grown up and they are already working with the coach. And we are going to play 3-4 times a week. Plus acquaintances who, following our example, also started playing, come on Sunday and play by themselves.

- Do you probably play with the whole big family?

- Of course! That's what they built for :) We all play. The grandchildren's favorite pastime is playing badminton.

- And finally, tell us about the "Rocket". Do you plan to hold competitions this year?

- "Racketlon" - an insanely interesting tournament, where 4 racket sports are played - table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis. We made this tournament a pair. And we form pairs so that everyone had more or less equal chances. Therefore, very strong players get a pair of weak ones. And the intrigue in the tournament lasts almost to the last ball. The atmosphere on this day is just crazy for excitement and enthusiasm. And when I post an invitation to Facebook about the next tournament, all the seats are already taken within 40 minutes. We can't afford more than 16-20 players, otherwise we will play until the morning. Therefore, every year everyone is looking forward to this event. We haven't played in this yet, I think we'll get together soon. Our friends also have their own badminton court and we organize "club" tournaments with them in spring and summer.

"But the most important thing in all this for me is that children and grandchildren are constantly hanging out with us because they come to play. The child grows up and sees how to enjoy the movement. And we are constantly alone in the game or watching it", - says Natalia.

©Anna Tesleva