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Russia Cup - Komova to compete on bars, Balandin out with injury

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A short news video released today by the Penza Press agency shows Viktoria Komova training beam, but in an interview the Olympic medallist confirms that her ankle is still painful, and she will compete only bars this week in order to avoid injury.  

Only time will tell whether Viktoria will remain eligible for selection to the Russian team for Worlds, considering the team requirement that gymnasts must be prepared to compete on two pieces of apparatus at least.  Worlds begin on the 3rd October so assuming Komova can present a good bars routine in Penza she faces a race against time to prove herself competitive on beam.  


Aliya Mustafina, who is not obliged to compete here, has been seen in training on both bars and beam, occasionally icing the ankle which was operated on a few weeks ago.  Blog the Couch Gymnast has a correspondent in Penza and reported yesterday that the Champion looks determined and focussed, staying long after her team mates had left the arena to perfect beam skills with the help of her coaches.

Elsewhere in the video report, Denis Ablyazin says he hopes to show his 7.4 D value routine on floor, and a 6.4 vault.

A further update on MAG - interview with head coach Alfosov.  He wants to see the whole team compete for places on the team here.  They have been working on upgrades since Euros.  Stretovich, Potapov, Dalolyan and Britan have been preparing alongside the senior team and are in Penza.  Balandin is out with an injury; Kuksenkov is in Penza, but has a back injury and feels unwell.  Nagorny will join the senior team for 2015.  The team's main objective is Rio in 2016.

http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=85809


There are some good pictures of podium training on the RGF website and at Penza Sport.  Edited highlights can be found on RRG's Facebook page.
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  1. M27 August 2014 at 04:45

    Thanks for the info. If the requirements are 2 apparatus, I hope Komova doesn't go. I am not sure she will ahve enough time to perfect beam, which has given her problems more than other apparatus, plus there is no need to rush her back, just be prepared next year.

    Stretovich - is a name I am interested in, I hope that he performs well.

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