Young Russian faces a long road to recovery

It’s cliche to say, but injuries are a part of every sport, especially during games. However, one Russian player recently sustained severe injuries off the ice that some thought would jeopardize her life, and she now faces a lengthy and challenging rehabilitation process.

Zhanna Batova, who plays for SKIF Nizhny Novgorod’s under-18 team, suffered serious injuries on August 15 in Lukoyanov, a town roughly 150 kilometers away from Nizhny Novgorod.

According to SKIF’s website, Batova was hit by a motorcycle while crossing Pushkin Street around 3:30 pm local time. The driver of the motorcycle was an unlicensed 17-year-old Lukoyanov resident; the site says that the motorcycle was also not registered.

In the crash, she suffered fractures to her clavicle, hips, and shin, and also suffered a concussion. Batova was quickly whisked off to the ICU in the nearby town of Pochinki. The injuries suffered weren’t life-threatening, but is currently on painkillers and in and out of consciousness.

The SKIF first team made a video expressing support in Batova’s recovery.

Last season, Batova won a national title in the Russian U18 league with SKIF. We wish her the best of luck in her recovery.