Picture of Aliya Mustafina, courtesy of RGF
Valentina Rodionenko has provided some updates on the Russian teams and how their preparation for Worlds (Nanning, China, 3 to 12 October) is progressing, via Allsports (http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=84328)
- The teams are now at camp in Italy, in two small towns close to Milan, by the sea, where the girls travelled on 29th June and the men on 1 July. The athletes aren't only training, they can also relax.
- Komova is working out at Round Lake, she didn't go to Italy. We will see how she does at the Russia Cup, which will be held late August in Penza. Tatiana Nabiyeva is looking good in training and the other girls are also working. Ksenia Afanasyeva won't have time to prepare for Worlds, and Anastasia Grishina's participation is also in doubt, we just don't know if she will qualify for the team.
We have hopes for Aliya Mustafina. As always, she is our number one. It would be great if there were time for Komova to prepare two apparatus. Valentina says she doesn't want to jinx the women's team but they are all working well.
Men's team captain Emin Garibov is trying very hard (recovering from surgery to both shoulders). He really wants to make it onto the team for Worlds. Let's see how he does in Penza. The competition will be held just a month before departure for China - they are travelling to Penza on the 25th September.
Aliya has had her consultation in Germany, and the brace is now off. Nothing hurts any more! She is very happy!
In other news, Russia has confirmed that Nikita Nagorny and Seda Tutkhalyan will represent them at the Youth Olympic Games (16th to 28th August) http://allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=84317