Three days are left until the start of the biathlon world championship. On the eve of the tournament, the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) announced the composition of the team. In the men's team, the main burden will fall on the shoulders of Alexander Loginov, Matvey Eliseev and Evgeny Garanichev. The cast will be played by Eduard Latypov, Nikita Porshnev and Kirill Streltsov. In addition, the coaches do not exclude the fact that they will declare the relay of one of the triumphs of the junior championship of the planet Said Karimulla Khalili.
As for the women's team, Svetlana Mironova, Larisa Kuklina, Ekaterina Yurlova-Perkht, Kristina Reztsova, Irina Starykh and Ekaterina Glazyrina will compete for medals. In addition, if necessary, Ulyana Kaisheva can join them.
The unsuccessful performance of the national team at the stages of the World Cup is causing serious concern among Russian fans. However, RBU President Vladimir Drachev is not inclined to share their concerns and regard the team’s results as unconvincing. At the same time, if earlier the functionary assumed that domestic biathletes could win three awards at a tournament in the Italian Antholz, now he refrained from medal forecasts.
“To be honest, I don’t even look at this World Cup, but I look forward to the summer period and conduct an analysis taking into account preparations for the next two seasons. Because we have a lot to change, a lot of things to catch up with the leaders. At least in relation to the material and technical base of the team. This is a service, and weapons, and methods, and medicine, ”RIA Novosti quoted Drachev as saying.
Nevertheless, the head of the RRF stressed that the Russians will certainly fight for high positions in each race, despite the not very happy atmosphere inside the team due to recent failures.
“All the time is missing a little. One cartridge, then a few seconds. From this comes a small brake in the mood. In general, we figured out what was the main problem. Especially in the post-New Year stages. We figured out where we made mistakes as a team. I would not say that they are of some global scale. But one was superimposed on another. Moreover, these trips to Russia and back for the holidays, ”explained Drachev.
He assured that the team had completely resolved issues related to inventory, and from this point of view, no problems should arise at the World Cup. After the competition, athletes and coaches will continue to work on mistakes, as, according to him, they are complex. The priority for the Russians will be the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
SBR Vice President Sergey Chepikov also urged not to draw hasty conclusions from the unsatisfactory results of domestic biathletes.
“It is clear that the team was not in very good functional condition. We analyze now the reasons, analyze the situation. The World Cup is a separate start, where psychological burden and responsibility are present in excess of the norm. At tournaments of this level, those who do not count on win, ”said Chepikov.
Unlike the management of the RRF, experts are not afraid to make forecasts and are rather optimistic. Many of them agreed that the fans should count on the national team getting into the top three in the men's relay, and as for personal starts, here awards should be expected from its leader - Loginov.
“After all, you can win one medal against the background of an ordinary-looking performance, or you can hold all races very powerfully, even without a pedestal, but the overall picture will be cool. I hope the girls will also perform successfully. For example, Mironova was on the podium this season. I believe that Yurlova-Perkht can compete. There are a number of athletes who will give a decent performance confidence and momentum in their careers, ”suggested two-time world champion Dmitry Yaroshenko.
In turn, Nikolai Kruglov, a two-time triumph of the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, called not to panic because of unsuccessful results, since the situation requires not only in-depth analysis, but also a dialogue between mentors and athletes.
“Certainly, failures have certain reasons. Perhaps they lie even on the surface. It is necessary for coaches and athletes to pack up and talk heart to heart, looking into each other's eyes. I don’t exclude that all the troubles lie in human relations and in the people themselves, ”Kruglov explained in an interview with the Team of Russia portal.
It is interesting that not only domestic experts, but also their Western colleagues highly appreciated the chances of Russians to medal. So, the Norwegians Ola Lunde and Andreas Stabrun Smith suggested that Loginov, Kenten Fillon Maye and Benedict Doll will compete in the men's sprint for unconditional favorites Marten Fourcade and Johannes Boe. In their opinion, the Russians will compete for the highest steps of the podium in the men's relay.
“Four leading biathlon nations are favorites here. Norway, France, Germany and Russia can win the World Cup, ”Lund quotes the“ Championship ”with reference to the Norwegian portal NRK.