Nikita Ignatyev competes this spring at Russian Championships. Picture courtesy RGF
Key points of interview with men's head coach Valery Alfosov http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=82847
- Their team is in 'perfect working condition', and working to peak for competition at the end of May - in time for Euros. His only slight worry is Ablyazin's second vault - but there will always be these worries when you want to win medals. 'We can only hope for the best'.
- 'The most dangerous competitors - the UK, Germany, France, Ukraine and Romania.'
- 'We want to win medals. But we understand that our rivals are very strong, do not stand still, and are developing and complicating their programmes, improving items and so on. Therefore to predict winning medals at the European Championships is very difficult.'
- 'There was a period when different opponents considered it an honour to beat a Russian. ... Our task is to train well, get ready to try to beat our rivals. That's all!'
- Selection for the World Championships will be made on the basis of the results of the Russia Cup. He hopes there will be some new names on the roster, mentioning in particular 19 year old Vlad Polyashov from Cheboksary, who is reserve for the Euros team (8th all around in Russian Champs, competed in pommel horse and parallel bars finals, coached by A Vassiliev).
- The athletes competing here are the foundation of the Olympic team, as we are mid Olympic cycle. They want members of the youth team to now come forward and begin to prepare for the Olympics, hoping to rise to the senior team. Strong competition always leads to good results.