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Russian team rosters for Europeans - Valentina Rodionenko speaks

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International Gymnast reports on a Moskovsky Komomolets interview with Valentina Rodionenko.  Rodionenko gives some quite specific information regarding the injury to Viktoria Komova and suggests that she wasn't fully ready for the National Championships which took place last weekend; furthermore, her place on the team for Berlin is under question.  The current line-up includes Dementieva and Mustafina (all around) with Nabieva and either Belokobylskaya or Komova providing specialist back up. 

Let's see how things turn out!  Still early days.  A team with Komova providing specialist back up on beam would indeed be very strong ... and quite a good tactical decision, I'd suggest.

In the full version of this Russian language interview which you will find here, Rodionenko also discusses the men's team selections.  Maxim Devyatovski is the top all arounder for the Russians at present, and they are hoping for a medal for him.  David Beliavski and Nikita Ignatiev are also expected to press Devyatovski for qualification to the all around, while on individual apparatus Andrei Cherkasov, Anton Golutsotskov, Alexander Balandin and Denis Ablyazin are all in contention.  Rodionenko mentions that Ablyazin in particular appears to be blossoming at present and the coaches are very pleased with him.

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