Russian national teams to compete in Batumi on 24th August.

Daria Spiridinova - impossible to forget.  Picture courtesy of RGF

As Russia's young gymnasts prove their mettle at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi this week - see RRG's Facebook page and Twitter account for results and updates - Valentina Rodionenko reports on an upcoming international competition that will be a testing ground for the Russian team in preparation for the World Championships.

I would suggest we might expect more news over the coming days - the usual pattern of Valentina's press activity is for news to be released piecemeal to several different sources, often providing conflicting information - so don't expect anything conclusive here.

So now, read on as Valentina has her say :

All the leaders of the Russian national team in gymnastics will perform at a tournament in Georgia

MOSCOW, July 31 - R-Sport, Maria Vorobyov. 

All the leaders of the Russian national team in gymnastics will take part in the Rusudan Sikharulidze tournament in Batumi, late August, in preparation for the World Championships, says senior coach Valentin Rodionenko.

World Championship will take place October 23 - November 1 in Glasgow.

"In Batumi, where the competition will start on August 24, teams of seven male and seven female gymnasts will compete - all leaders of the Russian team. Aliya Mustafina, Viktoria Komova, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Denis Ablyazin, David Belyavski and others. This is one of the most important tournaments in preparation for the World Championships,"- said Rodionenko by phone.

"The big question is whether Alla Sosnitskaia will recover and make this competition, she still has problems with her ankle.  Let's see.  It is also impossible to forget Daria Spiridonova, Seda Tutkhalyan and Maria Kharenkova - however, Masha is now being treated for back problems.  We are dealing with this issue," added the coach.

Also, the coach stressed that "it is unclear whether Emin Garibov is fully recovered." "Alexei Rostov  showed a good routine on the high bar at the Universiade, and possibly he will be included here as Emin is still recovering.  Emin had a serious injury and it is still unclear whether he will reach the previous level," - said Rodionenko.

"But in general, the two teams have returned from their breaks in Italy and Spain and are in good shape, rested, so to speak. They are now at camp and in full training.  Maria Paseka has a little trouble with her ankle, having inadvertently sprained her foot, but that's all right. Aliya Mustafina, Vika Komova and Ksenia Afanasyeva are all doing good work. So all in all everything is going according to plan ", - concluded the coach.

To add a little more recent information here, via Gymfever I have heard that Anna Rodionova has now officially retired from the sport (her own announcement).  A few weeks ago the Russian press carried an interview with Anastasia Grishina, who is currently recovering from a knee injury.  She isn't part of the national team for Rio at present, but hopes to compete at the Russia Cup in the autumn, and if possible, given her health, to prepare for the Olympics.  Finally, you will have read on this blog that depending on her performance at Russia Cup, Tatiana Nabiyeva will take a decision about her competitive status later in the year.

In as far as preparations for the Olympics are concerned, I have also heard that leading junior competitor Angelina Melnikova will be competing at the Russia Cup.  This would not be the first time that the Russians have used their domestic competitions as a way of blooding young talent who become eligible for senior competition in the Olympic year. 

Batumi Competition : 24th August 2015
Russia Cup : 14-20th September 2015, Penza, Russia
World Championships : 23rd October - 1st November, Glasgow, Scotland