With PeKan’s experienced confirmation, Inga Orekhova has relatives in both Ukraine and Russia. The fiery player is worried about the war, but is currently focusing on winning the Finnish championship.
Inka Henelius,
Anu Karttunen
Inga Orekhova was born 32 years ago in the Soviet Union, in Sevastopol, on the Crimean peninsula. He already had strong genes in basketball as blood inheritance, as his parents both played basketball.
A couple of years after the break – up of the Soviet Union, the family moved to Austria: as well as Svetlana that Sergey had won a game contract with the local league.
Inga Orekhova became an Austrian, but she has not forgotten about Ukraine. And now the war that is shaking the country has partially divided his home.
– My father’s family is still in Ukraine. Some left and some still there. The situation is tough. People are strong and they fight. I hope for the best, Orekhova told Sport.
On the day of the interview, the spring sun shone in the Bear Mountain of Kotka, the birds sang and the world revolved with its own weight. It was hard to imagine that just over a thousand miles away there was a war. It feels amazing even from Orekhova.
– No one believed this to happen in Europe. War, in our country.
Orekhova has been in contact with her relatives and has been kept up to date by her father, who lives in Austria. So far, they are all fine.
Like so many Ukrainians, Orekhova has relatives on both sides of the war. Therefore, he would not want to choose a side.
– At some level, my home is divided. I don’t have to choose a side, but it’s hard to listen to the two parties ’thoughts on the matter and then add my own thoughts to it. I’m like in between because I don’t want to be on anyone’s side and hurt others ’feelings.
The biggest dream turned into a disappointment
Orekhova arrived in Kotka and the Game Bears through a few bends. He has seen the world since he left high school and university in the United States at the age of 16.
Orekhova had always been fascinated by life in the United States, as she had played with many Americans. He also wanted to be more athletic. In Austria, there was no competition in the same way as on the other side of the ocean.
Known as a strong shooter and fighter, the 188-cent Orekhova played strongly at the University of South Florida, averaging more than ten points.
His biggest dream came true eight years ago when he was booked for the WNBA. However, Orekhova did not get a decent opportunity to showcase his expertise at Atlanta Dream or Connecticut Sun.
– Many underestimate what the NBA really is and what it requires. It involves a lot of politics that are either good or bad, depending on your own situation, Orekhova said.
Another big problem for him was that he was always used to being the best on his team. When he suddenly didn’t have it, it would bite hard.
– I’m happy with the experience, but it also made me think about where I would have been if I hadn’t left for the WNBA. I don’t miss it anymore.
“I can choose my fight”
Orekhova likes European basketball more, and in recent years she has enjoyed her main series in Belgium, Turkey and Finland. Also his spouse Richard “Richie” Williams thrives in Europe and has played in the ranks of KTP this season.
Orekhova has been a familiar sight in KTP matches and his temperamental nature has become clear to many.
A basketball league match between KTP and Lapua Kobri in November saw a special episode in which Williams was blown in just 11 seconds before the end of the game. Orekhova, who was in the auditorium, thought there was nothing wrong with the situation, and she protested this. The referee of the game asked the stewards to take Orekhova out.
Otherwise, the situation would not have been its bigger problems, but the couple was five years old Angel-daughter was left in the stands alone. KTP had to take overtime to get Williams to pick up his daughter at the end of the match.
“I could not have done that, and it won’t happen again,” Orekhova said with a laugh.
– But if it feels personal, I’ll respond. That’s what happened to Richie. I am very competitive, but with age I have reached maturity and I can choose my struggle.
Williams has had a lot of impact on Orekhova’s career, not just that the family usually moves in with his father to play. Orekhova took a break from playing for as long as five years before returning to the basketball courts. According to Orekhova, it was Williams who encouraged him back to basketball.
– I guess he got tired of me always being home, he laughed, but then he got a little more serious.
– It felt like part of my identity was lost when I was no longer playing basketball. I had been a basketball player for so long and then suddenly I was no more. Thanks to Richie’s encouragement I returned to the sport.
During the second season, Orekhova popped in the ranks of the EBT in Espoo for three matches and moved to Kotka last summer. He admits that after a long break he is not yet at the level he has been before, but has experienced that he can get towards it at PeKa.
Orekhova’s grips have been so strong that he has also been called from the Austrian national team. Orekhova has not played in national matches since he left for the United States, and he is not very enthusiastic even now.
– I wouldn’t want to be separated from my parents and family all summer when I’m away from them all season. However, parents no longer get younger.
Orekhova’s father played in his own career in the youth European championship finals, Orekhova himself has won the Austrian championship with his mother. This season he has already won the Finnish Cup in the ranks of PeKan, but the goals are also to win the Finnish championship.
– I have one more personal wish for this season, but I do not want to say it out loud until it comes true, Orekhova said and smiled enigmatically.
The women’s basketball championship is interrupted for PeKa on Wednesday night. The people of Kotka lead the final series with 2-1 victories against Kouvottari. Wednesday’s fight will be played at 6.30 pm in Kouvola.