Skip to main content

Status of Stella Zakharova Cup still uncertain

By
Photograph of Stella Zakharova, courtesy of the Kiev Times

Amid rising political and military tensions in Ukraine, former Soviet gymnastics champion Stella Zakharova, now a resident of Kiev, is struggling to find government support for her gymnastics competition, the Stella Zakharova Cup, last year supported by a strong field of competitors including teams from Russia, Japan and Brazil as well as the home team.  

The competition is reliant on government support for part of its funding and also for confirmation of the competition dates.  Originally scheduled for March 29th and 30th, the competition was first rescheduled for April but its postponement currently appears indefinite.  Zakharova is complaining that 
Minister of Sport and Youth, Dmitri Bulatov, is ignoring her requests for support and information.  She is conducting a fairly vocal campaign, having appeared recently on Ukrainian radio and in a number of local press reports.  The latest story about this is here - http://thekievtimes.ua/sport/361019-bulatova-obvinili-v-sryve-kubka-stelly-zaxarovoj.html

The status of Ukraine's gymnastics programme has been a cause for concern for some time, with top internationals Nikolai Kuksenkov and Oleg Stepko migrating to Russia and Azerbaijan recently, and rumours that world championships medal contenders Oleg Verniaiev and Igor Radivilov might also remove themselves from their home country's ailing programme.  Both Stepko and Kuksenkov had experienced problems in finding moneys to pay for necessary medical expenses.  Ukraine MAG coach Yuly Kuksenkov has also recently joined the Russian team at Lake Krugloye.  The country's WAG programme has been in crisis for some years.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We are satisfied - Aliya Mustafina

By
Photo credit: RGF An Allsport interview today with Aliya Mustafina : http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=83075 'I think that we are to be congratulated on this bronze medal, we are more satisfied than frustrated', said Aliya Mustafina. 'We were a new team, all the girls are young, and it's their first time in such a serious competition.  I think today we performed to the best of our ability.  Yes, we have had two falls today - on the uneven bars and balance beam.' 'The young girls failed  psychologically, but  the first time you compete on the senior podium - it's not very easy.  No  one is sad.  I  am very pleased with such a performance.  Everything  was fair enough, maybe not everywhere and in all things, but overall it was quite as expected, both our rivals, and the judging.' 'I began to experience more pain in the ankle - continued Aliya Mustafina. - To do the dismounts I had to muster all my strength and clench my teeth.  ...
21 comments
Read more

Viktoria Komova - back pain has forced me to step down

By
I awoke this morning to a very simple statement from Viktoria Komova, on her vk.com site, which Papa Liukin has translated (via the IG forum): 'Dear friends, fans, and gymnastics lovers. Unfortunately back pain isn't allowing me to train to my full potential and get ready for competitions. I've made the very difficult decision to stop training and take care of my health. I want to thank everyone for their support! Without your love and warmth it would've been more difficult to go all the way. Thanks everyone and see you soon! Love and kisses.' Well, first of all, good wishes and best of luck to Viktoria, who has struggled since 2012 to re-establish herself fully as a competitive gymnast, whose talent was so great that she secured gold on bars at two different World Championships, four years apart, whose career was littered with controversy, who must be allowed to live her life as she wishes.   I know that the 'gymternet' will now be overflowing...
43 comments
Read more

Russian trampolinists have been granted neutral status and will compete in Baku, says Titov

By
 Google translate via TASS The Russian Gymnastics Federation (RGF) continues to wait for a response from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) regarding the neutral status of Russian athletes. This was told to journalists by the First Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Vasily Titov. 💬"Due to the sensitivity of this process, I cannot say much, we have submitted an application for 100 people to receive neutral status, now we are waiting for an answer," Titov said. "Trampoline gymnasts will be the first to go to the World Cup in Baku, I hope that artistic and rhythmic gymnasts will also have this opportunity. Due to sanctions, we were suspended from FIG tournaments for a long time, but there was still international practice. Our teams are very ready." From February 22 to 23, Baku will host the first stage of the Trampoline World Cup in 2025. At the end of last week, athletes Arina Kalyandra, Alexandra Lyamina, Sergey Finchenko, Maxim Didenko a...
Post a Comment
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more