Courtesy of the RGF
Interviews with each of the Russian gymnasts at this week's European Games - Aliya Mustafina, Viktoria Komova and Seda Tutkhalyan - have appeared in the Russian press. Here are excerpts.
Victoria Komova: this is my first competition after my break - I hope that things will only get better.
Today, June 14, at the first European Games in Baku (Azerbaijan) the gymnastics tournament began. For the women there were qualifying competitions on the vault and uneven bars. Russia's Viktoria Komova vault score was 14.566, and on uneven bars - 14.866. Mark Skoda of Allsport reports.
- Right before my performances, I had goose pimples all over my body, said Viktoria Komova. - A lot of spectators, great excitement. They all clapped and generally very actively supported us. I have not performed at many major events recently, so was a little excited.
- How did it go in the vault and on the uneven bars?
- On bars I don't think I will get to the final. It's 100 per cent certain that Aliya Mustafina has made it. She scored 15.2 points, I - 14.8. I, as always, touched the lower bar, and because of that I had half a point deduction. Because of this, I'm upset. Not everything worked out the way I wanted. I repeat: this is my first start after the break. I hope that things will only get better. The main thing is that now, thank God, there is no pain.
- Why didn't you try a second vault?
- We decided that at the beginning. I made only one attempt - to be selected to finals, you need to do two. So, today I didn't qualify to either final. In the team tournament, we are in first position, tomorrow's a different competition, with two more apparatus. But I think that we can maintain our position (smiles).
Source - http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=93662
Aliya Mustafina: Vika Komova and Seda Tutkhalyan are great team mates. I like the way we work as a team.
2012 Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina received 15.133 points on the vault, and on uneven bars - 15.200. Mark Skoda reports.
- I am happy with today's performance, - said Aliya Mustafina. - Things turned out even better than I expected. But we must understand that there have only been two rounds, and tomorrow we expect the floor exercise and beam. The beam is known to be unpredictable (the direct translation of the words Aliya uses are 'fond of kicking') (smiles). I did not qualify to the vault final as I only performed one vault. I'm still restoring my programme after injury and did not set maximal targets for all apparatus. I have qualified to the uneven bars final. Vika Komova and Seda Tutkhakyan are great team mates. I like the way we work as a team. What is important is that my health is all right.
Source - http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=93664
Seda Tutkhalyan: I have a chance to reach the vault final
Russia's Seda Tutkhalyan received 14.966 points for vault and on uneven bars - 14.166. Mark Skoda. reports.
- The European Games are my first serious start in adult sports, - said Seda Tutkhalyan. - I'm very nervous, especially not to let the team down. Because it is a big responsibility. I really like Baku, it's a nice and friendly town.
- Are you satisfied with your performance?
- I could perform the second vault better, but I went over the line on the carpet and got a penalty. On the bars it is the first time I have received such a high score, I'm glad. But the score on the bars is still lower than that of our other girls, as they had higher difficulty. So I haven't qualified to this apparatus final. Aliya Mustafina and Vika Komova only tried one vault and so can't qualify to the final there. Therefore, I have a chance to qualify.
Source - http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=93663