The Executive Committee of Federation of figure skating of Russia has declared national team structure on the European championship 2019 in Minsk. In women’s figure skating will perform Stanislava Konstantinova, Alina Sagitova and Sophia Samodurova, as Evgeny Medvedev and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva will remain in stock. In the rest of the championship qualified solely the winners of the national tournament.

  • RIA Novosti

Bet on Samodurov

The next day after the national championship in Saransk the Executive Committee of Federation of figure skating of Russia (FSFR) had to announce the squad of athletes who will represent their country at the upcoming European Championships in Minsk. Like a year ago, two of three trips to the tournament were played at the national Championships, the selection of the third party remained the prerogative of the organization.

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The reasons for the poor performance of Alina Sagitova in any program at the Russian Championships in figure skating began…

The greatest interest was confined to the women’s tournament. Before the start most predicted success recognized favorites — Zagotovki Alina, Evgenia Medvedeva and Elizabeth tuktamysheva. However, the first two figure skaters performed extremely unstable, and eventually missed the podium, and the third missed the competition because of pneumonia.

In the end the medals went to three of the company — Anna Sherbakova, Alexandra Trusova and Alyona Kostina who are unable to participate in the continental championship due to age. At the moment, the winner and silver medalist of the championship in just 14 years old, and the possessor of bronze only in August was 15.

Thus, the first two trips expected were won by the athletes, who took fourth and fifth place — Stanislav Konstantinova and Aline Sagitova. But as the third participant of the championship of Russia remains open, and the main contenders of steel took sixth place at the home championship Sophia Samodurov, as well as all the same Tuktamysheva and Medvedeva.

Despite all the difficulties this season, the candidacy Medvedeva hardly would call someone a surprise. She has extensive experience, as in any program scored 143,66 points, having conceded only to owners of medals. By and large, the fiasco of Eugenia in the championship of Russia due to a failure in the short rentals, which it has occupied only 14-e a place. But you must understand that in Saransk it has introduced a brand new program that she just didn’t have time to adequately rehearse.

In the case of Tuktamysheva, the main question remained as skater after an illness. Given the fact that the European championship kicks off on January 21, Elizabeth, only to gain the necessary condition. It is possible that the recovery will take longer than originally planned, and this may negatively affect its prospects in the tournament.

Obviously, as considered in the FCCR, giving the last ticket to Sofia Samodurova. This season, the 16-year-old Russian twice been on the podium at the Grand Prix events, which allowed her to qualify for the final tournament in Vancouver. However, there she played very well, taking only penultimate, fifth place. By the way, after two rentals she lost 10.99 points to tuktamysheva, and from Sagitova behind 22,20 points.

However, Tuktamysheva will not remain without international tournaments. According to the decision of the Federation, it will represent Russia at the winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk will be held from March 2 to March 12. In addition, Tuktamysheva and Medvedeva is included in the spare at the European championship and will be ready to replace one of the main participants of the championship of the Old world.

In other types of programs, not much change happened. In the men’s tournament Russia will be represented by committed triumphant return to the sports Maxim Kovtun and Mikhail Kolyada Alexander Samarin. The number of spare hit Sergei Voronov, who, because of a knee injury was forced to withdraw from the tournament in Saransk.

Nothing surprising happened in the pairs figure skating, where the team included only the winners of the national championship. So, in the competition sport duos will perform Evgenia Tarasova — Vladimir Morozov, Natalia Subiaco — Alexander Enbert and Alexander Boikova — Dmitry Kozlovsky. In dancing on ice for the medals of the world championship will compete Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov, Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin, and Sofia Evdokimova and Egor Bazin.

“To take the entire podium is absolutely real”

The squad for the European championship, commented on in the Federation. According to the President FCCR Alexander Gorshkov, the selection of the participants of the tournament were completely transparent.

“The squad for the European championship was approved on presentation of the coaches according to the sporting principle,” — said Gorshkov to RIA Novosti.

However, he added that the Council was not discussed, who will represent the country at the world Cup 2019, which will be held in March in the Japanese city of Saitama.

“The squad for the world championship will be determined following the results of superiority of Europe”, — said the head of the FSFR.

Perhaps the honored trainer of Russia Alexei Mishin was difficult to observe the decision of the Federation, because the last ticket to Minsk contested from two wards — Tuktamysheva and Samodurov. In the end, fortune smiled on Sophia than her rushed to congratulate the coach.

“Sonia — well, we are happy with her progress and the fact that she was able to perform well in the championship of Russia”, — said Mishin.

The expert expressed the opinion that the pass superiority of continent has an impact on the chances Tuktamysheva participate in the championship of the world.

“She’s a great skater. The first replacement. The Federation has assigned me to prepare Tuktamysheva to the world Cup. It is strange that it did not sound, and it was said about the Universiade”, — quotes the coach of “Sport-Express”.

He also added that currently Tuktamysheva was already discharged from the hospital. Soon she will begin to rebuild, and then laid out her training for a set physical form.

As admitted the silver medalist of the world championship in 2012 Alena Leonova, she would really like to see Tuktamysheva at the European Championships.

“Samodurov — well, she deserved this trip. In General, no one should be judged Of course, I believe that it is better to send Tuktamysheva. She revived this season. And Medvedev is still only beginning its journey. Short she skated bad, but arbitrary. It is still possible to perform on some minor starts to come confidence,” said Leonov.

According to the silver medalist of the Olympic games Ilya Averbuch, before FCCR had a very difficult task in determining the squad for the European championship in women’s figure skating.

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14-year-old Anna Shcherbakova said that the victory in the championship of Russia in figure skating in Saransk has a great surprise for her….

“It was definitely difficult, but I welcome the decision of trainer’s Council to pick a team according to the sporting principle. At the European Championships and the Universiade in women’s figure skating we have a great chance. Can’t see any of the European athletes who could provide at least some competition to our girls. To occupy the entire podium is absolutely a real result in the tournament”, said Averbukh TASS.

According to him, in the ice dancing Russians will be very hard to fight for the gold in the light of presence among the participants of the silver winners of the Olympiad in Pyeongchang — Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron from France.

Olympic champion Maxim Trankov Sochi also supported the idea of forming a team according to the sporting principle, but expressed regret that the European championship is unlikely to make Evgeny Medvedev.

“It’s a shame, but it’s a sport. You have to show the best skating to be eligible to represent the country in international tournaments. Zhenya this time failed to do so. After this tournament, a decision on the permit on the world championship. Maybe Medvedeva’s benefit — she will receive medical treatment, practice and become even better. Maybe she’ll go for the world championship,” said Trankov.