Head WAG coach Evgeny Grebyonkin has confirmed further details of the Russian team for April's European Championships, reports Allsport.
On the basis of their performance at the Russian Championships, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Maria Kharenkova and Daria Spiridinova have been confirmed for the team. Fighting for the final place will be Alla Sosnitskaya, Viktoria Komova, Maria Paseka and first year senior Seda Tutkhalyan.
The Russian coaches face some tough selection decisions as they attempt to balance a relative paucity of all around talent this year with the diverse specialisms of such gymnasts as Spiridinova, Afanasyeva and Komova. Both Sosnitskaya and Tutkhalyan (whose D score AA of 23.7 ranks third in the international ranks so far this year, behind Simone Biles and Evgeniya Shelgunova) offer potential at both specialist (respectively vault (Sosnitskaya) and beam (Tutkhakyan)) and AA level. Much will depend on the nerve of the coaches and the way these gymnasts respond in preparation at Lake Krugloye.
Given the exigences of training and the time frame now involved before Montpellier, we should expect there to be changes to the line up. Grebyonkin did mention that others are in the mix. My guess would be that Shelgunova, with her 23.8 D value, will be on the fringes, but another fast-improving gymnast is Anastasia Dmitrieva. Grebyonkin emphasised that the selection would take into account the results of control competitions held during the training camp at Lake Krugloye, and said that the girls were constantly working to improve. He was pleased with the performance of the first year seniors, who had overcome significant psychological challenges in making the step up to challenge those they might consider gymnastically to be their 'big sisters' (my words). Some of the team might even add new combinations to their routines for Montpelier.
In another interview, Daria Spiridinova explained how she was returning straight to Krugloye to continue her preparations right after the Championships, without even returning for a short break at home. Not all of the gymnasts are doing the same, but this demonstrates the serious attitude Spiridinova has towards this competition.
I hope Russia will consider blooding some new talent at the EC. It would be fine experience and preparation for the forthcoming World Championships, which are a qualifying event for the Olympics.
Good luck to all the team! Work hard, and be happy!
Source: http://allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=90880
Interview with Daria Spiridinova - http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=90805
2015 WAG best scores - http://www.the-all-around.com/2015/02/09/2015-wag-best-scores/