Skip to main content

Russia Cup 2013 - 17th to 21st August


Russia Cup will be a qualifying competition for the Russian MAG and WAG teams for the Antwerp World Championships, due to take place late in September.  Gymnasts pre-selected for the team due to their participation in Europeans and the Universiade will not be required to compete, so we will not be seeing Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Denis Ablyazin, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Emin Garibov and David Belyavski.  This seems a good strategy designed to protect these gymnasts from over exposure.

There are strong rumours on the internet that Viktoria Komova will not appear here.  This would have been Vika's first major competitive appearance in over a year, and her only real opportunity to test herself before Worlds, so is disappointing and a little worrying.  There is no official news from the RGF about it so, for now at least, we can only speculate and hope that things turn out for the best by the World Championships. In Komova's absence, Anastasia Grishina must be front runner for the WAG all around title.  The men's competition will be enriched by the participation of local Penza favourites Pavel Russinyak and Pavel Pavlov.

It is not easy to access information about these Russian domestic competitions.  RRG will try to find the best sources and provide links and updates as they become available.  Individual and qualification competitions take place tomorrow for both MAG and WAG; WAG team competition on Sunday, MAG team competition Monday, with event finals taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.  There will be live online streaming of Event Finals only, accessible on the RGF website.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We are satisfied - Aliya Mustafina

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.  The coaches have d

Simone and the others - results and reflections

In the end, it was as predicted : Simone and the others, with Simone's teammate, Alexandra Raisman, providing the back up.  I do not need to point out that, by definition, the Americans are scoring significantly higher marks than the rest of the field.  Congratulations to them! Aliya Mustafina finished in third place.  The 2012 bronze medalist led the competition after vault and uneven bars, but had a very nervous outing on beam that might have taken a less experienced gymnast out of the medals.  A bravura performance on floor brought Aliya back though to confirm her third place all around.  From her senior debut in 2010 to today, Mustafina has continuously set high standards of grace.    It is the first time since 2000 that a gymnast (Amanar) has medalled in the all around at two consecutive Olympics, and  if Aliya can medal on Saturday's uneven bars final, she will once again be Russia's biggest medal winner of the women's gymnastics.  Russia's second gymnast, Sed

Russia defend team silver medal in Rio

It was an emotional performance and an emotional reaction at the end - but Russia is now second in the world in both MAG and WAG! The team did well, exploiting its strengths on bars and vault, and holding its own on beam.  Seda Tutkhalyan really showed her maturity and mettle with an almost perfect showing on beam and a solid, if not faultless, display on floor.  Maria Paseka did her best ever Amanar vault.  Aliya Mustafina ... was Mustafina.  Taking her fifth Olympic medal here, she scored over 60 in the AA.   The best work did come from the 2012 veterans, although Seda on beam and Daria on bars do have that special mark of Russian innovation and skill.  Angelina Melnikova looked perhaps a little overwhelmed at times - though I personally love her emotion - but this was only her first Olympics and I am certain she will be back for more.  Should she have had her personal coach on the floor with her?  It might have given her more assurance.  Is that hamstring still troubling her?  Why d

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more