The Russian MAG and WAG teams take their preparation for World Championships in Nanning one step further this week, as key players compete in the annual Russia Cup in Penza. There will be team, all around and event finals. The WAG team Last year the gymnasts were rather depleted and suffering the effects of injury; this year the national squad is still short of some of its top members, but has greater diversity and experience up and coming into the ranks, so it will be an interesting time. Last year saw St Petersburg gymnast and fan favourite Tatiana Nabiyeva lead the all around, ahead of Alla Sosnitskaya, Anna Pavlova, Anna Rodionova, Ekaterina Kramarenko and Polina Fyodorova. With the individual-only World Championships up coming in Antwerp, I remember writing that Russia might well decide to send a team of only three gymnasts, such was the paucity of available talent. The final reckoning saw Russia fare a little better than this, although performance lacked depth and re
Hail Valentina, finally!
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a Pro. To me qualifications went well, actually, better than expected. I really really want to see Kharenkova in the BB final. Replacing Mustafina by Kharenkova in BB EF is possibel. I mean, Mustafina, a world champion on BB, is guaranteed to hit in the finals but Kharenkova, if she hits, would definitely be golden. This should be a replica of 2011 scenario when Afan replaced Komova on floor and hit a golden routine. YET, it is the Glorious Mustafina vs. fresh Kharinkova, difficult decision.
Alfi
I think quals went well, too.
DeleteKharenkova is well down in the beam scores - Russia would not be able to substitute her for Aliya, even if Aliya finishes in the top eight after all the remaining gymnasts have competed.
But she still has team finals to vindicate herself - and as a young gymnast there will, hopefully, be plenty more opportunities to compete.
Yeah, the 2011 scenario was possible only because Afanasyeva had qualified ninth, and thus was the first alternate and the first in line when Komova pulled out though.
DeleteI'm impressed though, a Valentina statement where she sounds completely sane the whole way through? Someone call a doctor, maybe she's come down with a fever that's affecting her brain. She said that the girls did well and mentioned their errors without throwing blame around, discussed judging issues also without blaming the judges, and didn't call anyone fat. Wow.
I was pleasantly surprised with Nabs performance. Did a sold UB; and other than her typical bent knee, her DTY was good. She also displayed a solid veteran leadership as she was the first to talk with Kharenkova after her fall on beam.
ReplyDeleteWell done team performance with room to improve in finals, and a drive for redemption for Kharenkova.