Veterans Ksenia Afanasyeva and Tatiana Nabiyeva face a race against time to see who will be better prepared to compete in Nanning. As things stand at present, both will travel to China and the final team selection will be made right before the Championships. Pictures courtesy of the RGF.
Valentina Rodionenko today provided an update of Russia's team selection, highlighting that Viktoria Komova has been deemed unready to compete at the coming World Championships following a doctor's examination.
The team Valentina said will travel to Russia also differs slightly from the nominative registrations published on the FIG website, as Tatiana Nabiyeva has apparently replaced Maria Paseka. Paseka is assumed to be suffering a foot or ankle injury after pictures of treatment recently appeared on her personal Instagram account. Nabiyeva and Afanasyeva will compete for the final spot on the team that also includes Aliya Mustafina, Maria Kharenkova, Daria Spiridinova, Alla Sosnitskaya and Ekaterina Kramarenko. Afanasyeva is still recovering from ankle surgery but if ready will contribute on floor and vault. Rodionenko says she is currently pretty much on an even level with Nabiyeva.
The men's team will include Danish Ablyazin, David Belyavski, Nikita Ignatyev, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Ivan Stretovich, Daniil Kazachkov and Vladislav Polyashov. As with the women all seven men will travel to Nanning, with Kazachkov and Polyashov fighting for the last place on the team and the final selection decision not made till the very last moment possible. 'Everyone knows that in our sport injuries are frequent, and replacements may be necessary', said Valentina.
The team travels to China on the 27th September. Nominative registrations can be changed right up until 24 hours before the competition, with Russia's women competing in the very first subdivision, beginning on beam.
Rodionenko has further clarified that Viktoria is rather upset about the decision, but it is felt best to preserve her health. Her first international competition is now expected to be the 2015 Europeans.
Source : http://rsport.ru/artist_gym/20140919/773778741.html
Nabs or Afan either one will make for a very entertaining addition to this team (especially Nabs)! Can't wait to see how it plays out. May the best woman win!
ReplyDeleteKsenia can contribute more to the Russian team than Tanya. Ksenia's floor and vault are much needed. Russia doesn't need another bar worker right now. But, good luck to both girls!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if Afan would be able to contribute an Amanar or just a DTY?? I find it interesting that Komova was deemed not ready when her contribution on one piece would be far more helpful that Nabs contribution on all pieces. Praying that Afan gets chosen but highly doubt it. I thought Russia had a solid shot for silver, even gold with a good day with Paseka and Komova, but I'm struggling to have faith in this team ESPECIALLY if Nabs is on it. Her attitude at the Russian Cup was horrible and I do not think she can bring anything good to the team.
ReplyDeleteno way russia will get silver or gold this year even if komova and paseka are on the team. hate to admit it but US and China are way superior to russia this year.
DeleteChina is absolutely the favorite but they have a habit of completely falling apart. Like last year. Huge medal potential, failed epically. And the US is not looking good. They lost Nichols and Dowell and are now bringing Desch who is just bad. They don't even have enough girls for 4 solid routines during qualifications let alone 5. They did not score well internationally, probably will not score any 15+ besides Biles on vault and floor and Ross on vault. Not to even mention that 4 of their girls are not known for their consistency and are massively risky. Russia has 4 15+ scores possible scores, maybe more depending on Afans condition, and their newbies have proved themselves consistent this entire year.
DeleteI did not like Nabieva's attitude either especially on floor/beam. It's not that she had a bad attitude in terms of it being mean, disrespectful or anything to others girls. But it was bad in terms of how she behaved with her own shortcomings; i find it funny how she sources Aliya as her inspiration yet has she ever thought to herself how much of an inspiration would Aliya be if she mimicked half the sour demeanor Nabs showed when a performance doesn't go as planned (and who's fault would that be anyways?)?
DeleteI still like Nabs for her overall personality outside of gymnastics; she is the class clown, the cool girl, the party girl, the fun one and the supportive one to everybody. That is all clear. But it's also clear she is still retired in many aspects even though she is competing.
You are mistaken about Tatiana - she is a very serious gymnast and has responded to her country's request for her to come out if retirement and train for Worlds with great application. I expect she would far rather be coaching at home than training six or seven hours a day - enjoying the freedom she has earned rather than risking injury - yet she is doing 'the right thing' by helping her team mates.
DeleteShe simply isn't a floor gymnast any more - whereas on beam I think you are missing a gymnast of great skill, who once was Junior European Champion in the event, but who now has to work incredibly hard to complete a routine - and it means a lot to her - remember her reaction after completing beam faultlessly for her team in qualifications during the 2013 Worlds.
Yes, that floor routine in the Russia Cup wasn't exactly the best presented - but I would not interpret that as a careless attitude. More an acknowledgement that her floor isn't really up to muster any more. Remember the huge bruise she had on her head after last year's WC? That came after a fall in floor.
Nabiyeva isn't a saint, but she is doing a great deal for her team at a time that it needs her more than she needs it. Respect, where respect is due -
Nabieva may be a serious gymnast, but, for a Russian, she lacks presentation and good execution. Why is it that in other countries gymnasts build on when they turn seniors, while Russians lose their elements, remove them from their programs, and don't improve over all?
DeleteGo Afan!
ReplyDeleteI know Tatiana personally, harpies (she's a very close friend), and you are gravely mistaken. She is arguably the hardest worker on the entire team. Yes, she was comfortable coaching her young ones in st. petersburg, but knowing Grishy, Afan and Komova are not healthy and not likely to be ready until next year, she had to step up for the team as its most senior gymnast in both age and experience. She herself admits she's probably not an all-around performer anymore, but if called upon she WILL do it and do it as well as she can. You forget she won all-around at a competition last year, at a meet where Mustafina wasn't present. She can do it!
ReplyDeleteI know she's not a saint as Elizabeth mentions (she's gotten herself in trouble with me more than once), but she is very supportive of her teammates and as the most senior gymnast on the team, the girls look to her for leadership. Besides, she had also mentioned to me before she was having 2nd thoughts about retirement - the drive and love for the sport remains very strong for her. She wouldn't be making a comeback if she didn't think she wouldn't be able to help the national team in some way.
Right now, I just remember the mistake of not selecting Anna Dementieva for the team for London Olympic Games. I think another mistake now is being committed. The best fit for this situation is Daria Elizarova. She is good and proven results on beam and floor (second and third) during Cup of Russia. Why not selected ? Well, it is the same "WHY" of Dementieva's situation. They got a resource not utilized, typical.
ReplyDeleteChina is the host, they will fight for it till the last tenth.
US! Martha never goes to Worlds with a risky team. She prepares them well.
Alfi
Alfie, I believe that the reason Elizarova isn't selected is that she doesn't have an international licence to compete for Russia.
DeleteShe prepared for the 2012 Olympics with the Uzbek team - but missed selection. I think now she enjoys training, but doesn't want to train and compete at international level.
So it isn't a poor selection decision - on the same level as the truly ridiculous exclusion of Dementyeva - just a pragmatic reality.
As I've mentioned, Russia is so shorthanded they really don't have many choices to make for the team. Since the Rodionenkos took over most of the girls have been injured at some point or other. I'm not sure if it's the way they train the girls or just sheer bad luck, but they are lucky they can even cobble together a team.
DeleteJared,
DeleteJust felt like reminding you that injuries is not something exclusive of the Rodionenkos.
US girls all have been injured this quad, even Kyla Ross, Maddie Kocian, Alissa Baumman and Simone Biles. Mckayla Maroney, Kaitlyn Ohashi, Peyton Ernst, Brenna Dowell, Lexie Priessman, Maggie Nichols are out with injuries.
Romania duo, Iordache and Bulimar are injured 3/4 of the year.
On China Yao Jinnan is injured yet again.
Your Majesty, thanks for the clarification. I've had no idea that Elizarova has not been licensed yet to compete for Russia. Not wanting to train and compete at international level is another story. I'd love to see her back again to her 06 shape. How about an interview with her by RRG to see what she is been up to?
DeleteAlfi
Who is Danish? I thought his name was Denis, unless I'm really really wrong.
ReplyDelete:-). Typo caused by autocorrect on my IPad. I suppose I should correct it back, but is really quite like it.
Delete*I* really etc ...
DeleteHi Queen
ReplyDeletethere is an improper comment here: http://rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.com/2014/09/viktoria-komova-training-that-my-victory.html
thanks
John