‘We Came Here to Win’
Madin Natok, second-year student of HSE University’s Business Informatics programme, has spent the last decade playing basketball. This season, he was named the best young player in the Russian 3×3 Championship, and he is now preparing for an international tournament in China as part of the Russian U21 national team. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Madin spoke about sports, studies, and the upcoming tournament.
First Steps in Basketball
I’ve been playing basketball for ten years now. At the age of 15, I joined the Highest League, played there for three seasons, and then moved to Moscow to study at HSE University.
Last year, a professional 3×3 basketball team noticed me, and this season I was named the best young player in the Russian 3×3 Championship.
The Tournament in China
I’m really looking forward to it. This is the first international tournament involving Russia in five years, so we’re determined to perform well.
We came here to win, and we are well prepared. We hope to achieve the result we want and to have great experiences.
The Russian National Team
Our team is strong. We have a very well-chosen and balanced lineup, with all the players performing at a high individual level.
It’s difficult to make predictions because our opponents’ lineups are not completely clear yet. All the players are young and haven’t had much international experience, so it’s hard to analyse anything before the matches. But a lot will become clear after the first day of play.
The Meaning of Victory
First of all, victory brings pleasure and joy. Russia has not participated in international tournaments for five years, and it would be great to come back and win.
In addition, people will be watching, worrying, and cheering for our team, which is also wonderful. Winning this tournament would qualify us for the World Cup—an even more prestigious, interesting, and competitive event. We are extremely eager to take part, so we are especially motivated for this tournament.
Study and Sports at HSE University
Since joining HSE University, I have never regretted my choice. I really like the quality and format of the teaching, as well as the interaction between students and faculty. Overall, I find HSE University’s ecosystem very comfortable.
Studying is quite demanding. I’m on the Business Informatics programme, which combines technical and business subjects. But generally, I manage to balance studies and sports well. Last semester, I ranked in the top 5% across the entire course.
I have now completed my second year. I am very pleased and hope to maintain this level of academic success throughout all four years.
Plans, Goals, and New Heights
Studying has always been my first priority, because a sports career is limited: at the age of 30–35, or 40 at most, it becomes difficult to continue competing due to health issues. That is why I consider it important to invest in intellectual skills.
At the same time, I remain very interested in sports—especially if the restrictions on our participation in international tournaments are finally and fully lifted, making it possible to compete at the highest level and play against the world’s best players. It energises me and greatly motivates me to become even better at what I do.
