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| Tatiana Nabieva will compete on vault and bars |
Russian teams for the Universiade (gymnastics competitions take place 7th to 10th July) have been announced. Team format is 5-4-3 :
MAG : David Belyavski, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Denis Ablyazin, Emin Garibov, Mattei Petrov. Substitute - Nikita Ignatiev.
Women: Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Tatiana Nabieva, Anna Dementieva, Maria Paseka
Kuksenkov has only just gained eligibility to compete for Russia and this will be his first international appearance for his new team.
Mustafina and Afanasyeva will compete all around. Nabieva has recovered from her injury and regained form and will be able to contribute on bars and vault, although she does not at present have a second vault. If they want to win a medal on vault, they will have to take Maria Paseka.
There is an interview with Valentina Rodionenko about the selection here. It is clear that there is still some final decision making left to do before the teams travel to Kazan.
With thanks to Lifje for providing the information and link.
I wonder whose decision it was for Aliya to compete all four events...Hers, coaches, Rodionenkos...After seeing her clearly not 100% at Euros, I wonder if this is the best move. I feel like she barely had a chance to comeback fully after her last injury, and now they are back to working her into the ground...Fingers crossed she has an injury free rest of her career!
ReplyDeleteIn all interviews, I've seen, Aliya showed here great interest in competing in Kazan.
DeleteYea I don't doubt that. It is the biggest competition for Russia, I know id wanna compete no matter what. But is it the best decision for her? I mean who knows, she could be fully recovered from euros...hopefully!
DeleteRodionenko still insists, that Xenia will show her Amanar in Kazan. That should be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteExcited to see Anna Dementyeva on the roster
ReplyDelete