Garibov out of Cottbus with shoulder injury; Mustafina in 'optimal'shape - Rodionenko

Russian WAG team leaders Aliya Mustafina, Viktoria Komova and Anastasia Grishina will not compete at Cottbus next week, but will remain at Lake Krugloye to prepare for the forthcoming Russian Championships in Penza.

A shoulder injury has ruled Emin Garibov out of the Cottbus competition.

'The Russian Championships will be a major step in the selection for the May European Championships in Bulgaria', said Valentina, 'in Penza all of our strongest gymnasts will compete, except Ksenia Afanasyeva.  We decided to send some young athletes to Germany so that we could evaluate them on a senior stage, and consider them for a place on the Europeans team.  Anna Rodionova, Daria Spiridonova, Polina Fyodorova and Maria Kharenkova will all compete there.  Incidentally, the complexity of Kharenkova's gymnastics in some ways already surpasses that of some of our leaders.

'Our Olympic Champion and, last year, World Champion, Aliya Mustafina, was given the opportunity to rest for the whole of January.  During this time she managed to pass the winter session at her University.  This athlete gave her all last year and needed a serious break.  But now Aliya has trained into almost the optimal shape.  We decided not to take her to Cottbus, as I don't see much sense in that.  Aliya already has a name in gymnastics.'

According to the coach, silver medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games Viktoria Komova is slowly finding her physical condition.  'Last year the girl was seriously ill with meningitis, and at the end of the year sprained her foot at a bus stop.  She grew, and has gained a little weight.  But she is still as beautiful as ever.

'Anastasia Grishina, who won a silver with the team in London, is also preparing for the Russian Championships, and we hope she will show herself in all her glory there.  Last year Grishina also had a number of illnesses.  She is now getting back into shape, but very slowly, and we are a little bit worried.  Why is this happening?  She is always complaining that something hurts.  We have talked with coach Viktor Razumovsky, but he believes everything is going to plan.  This coach doesn't believe in accelerated training.  We will have to see how things go.'

Russian national championships for women take place in Penza from 1 to 6 April.

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