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Komova still in contention for a spot at Euros, Kuksenkov selected for Berne

In an interview with Tass correspondent Albert Starodubtsev, Valentina Rodionenko has refreshed ideas of those in contention for the upcoming European Championships. 

MAG - 25 to 29 May - registrations will be sent to the UEG tomorrow.  The team will include Nikolai Kuksenkov, David Belyavski, Nikita Nagorny, Nikita Ignatyev and Denis Ablyazin.  Reserve is Emin Garibov.  Ablyazin is suffering from some health problems but it is hoped that he will recover in time, otherwise the team is in 'good shape'.  The RGF received notification from RUSADA on 15th April that Kuksenkov's temporary suspension had been lifted.

As previously announced, the women's team (comp begins 1 June and registrations will be made formally next week) will include Ksenia Afanasyeva, Angelina Melnikova, Aliya Mustafina and Maria Paseka.  The final place will be contested by the Viktoria Komova, Daria Spiridonova and Seda Tutkhalyan.  (Ed's note - Seda is competing this weekend at the Osijek Challenge Cup alongside team mates Natalia Kapitanova and Maria Kharenkova - I wonder if that final spot is even more open than we are being told - I personally would be looking for consistency from Tutkhalyan and Kharenkova.). Valentina says that Viktoria is 'recovering'.



http://tass.ru/sport/3235857

Comments

  1. Did Valentina last week not state Komova is out of Euros? It comes across as if Valentina does not know what is really going on.

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    1. Things change ... Valentina says what is in her mind at the time :-)

      I would like to see Seda on the team. She needs a chance to prove herself, and on form she transforms the team's possibilities. Both she and Komova are unpredictable, but Tutkhalyan has a lot to prove.

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    2. I think it's useful that Seda doesn't feel in a confort state of mind, that she acknowledges that her inconsistency is a problem and that she can lose the euros and olympic spot because of that. I hope she improves her consistency and execution, as you say, to prove herself, the difficulty is already there, and also would love to see her in the game.

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    3. I respectfully disagree with you -- I think Seda has already showed that she can't be consistent (and honestly her form is nothing to write home about). She also lacks Russian Artistry. She can't be trusted for Team Finals and the remote possibility of her hitting two BB routines is not worth taking her to Rio.

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    4. I think Seda could hit every single beam routine from now to Rio and still not be in contention for the team. She has blown too many chances to display consistency. I had high hopw for her, she was a strong junior, but she doesn't have the mental game necessary to go far in the sport. Russia needs to hire Simones sports psych!

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    5. The whole Russian team needs a sports psych! The mental strength of Russia is poor - it's rare for the team to hit all routines. It is where the US team have the edge. Remember Simone was once considered very inconsistent - especially on beam but they really worked on that

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    6. Sorry, but Komova came back from illness and a bunch of injuries and won a gold medal on bars. I would take her since it seems the new seniors have worst consistency with (hopefully) Melnikova being the only exception.

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    7. Sorry, but Komova won only a 1/4 of gold medal on bars :D and don't forget she fell 3 times on TF at last WCh :(

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    8. Still a gold, something I expected ST to do and not the girl that was already considered done.

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  2. would be great to see a rivalry between Mustafina and Komova in Rio.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, Komova's AA is long gone. I think that Mustafina with consistency can fight for an AA silver or bronze, most likely bronze.

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    2. I think it's a shame we never really got to see them go head-to-head because they're almost never healthy at the same time. It's like the rivalry wasn't meant to be :/ And I too kind of think Komova doing AA isn't looking promising, but it would be so cool if all 3 AA medalists from the previous Olympics got to fight it out again. When's the last time that happened? Although all 3 would have to make the final over their younger teammates first.

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    3. Well Komova needed a 12.000 on floor to qualify second in the aa at Worlds last year, she has strong vt, ub and bb.

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  3. 13.05 - 15.05 World Challenge Cup in Varna the should be Shelgynova and Skripnik from Russian team. To me Skrypnik is more suitable for TF at ECh then Spiridonova,because she has Ub and Vt, and Spirodonova only UB.

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  4. I really don't see a reason for Seda at the team, if there's no Komova I would take Kapitonova or even Spiridonova.

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  5. Yeah, why the coaches like Spiridonova alot, she only have UB. She always fell on beam, she can't vault, and she can't score over 13.800 on floor, Seda, kapitonova,and skrypnik have stronger routines.

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    Replies
    1. Spiridonova in my opinion, would be the perfect replacement for Komova. She's working on her beam

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  6. Spiridonova delivers under pressure and is very professional and mature. That's why the coaches like her.

    All the same, I do think she may be overtaken this year unless she can find one other consistent score. I like Kapitanova, but I think the coaches will wait until next year to give her her big debut. Skrypnik is the one I like. I think Daria is constantly improving and has the presence of mind to cope on the big stage. If she can match Spiridonova on bars and provide a stable base on beam and or floor, I think she will have made a case for herself.

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  7. Spiridonova is not clean on BB. She is a one-event gymnast.

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