Happy new European Men’s and Women’s Team Championships or trip to Rio via Kazan!
The European Men's and Women's Team Championships, which started on Tuesday, is, undoubtedly, a celebration of elite sport. But there was not any effect of anything new and unknown. It is no wonder: it might be said that the best badminton players of the Old World frequented Kazan. The Gymnastics Center of Kazan had hosted the previous European Championships in 2014. Realnoe Vremya goes into details.
Badminton rush in Kazan
According to the President of the Russian Badminton Federation Sergey Shakhrai, it is no wonder. Nowadays Kazan has not only the best infrastructure of the country but also the best offer. Badminton rush has taken hold of Kazan for a couple of years. So, now Kazan is the leader of the country in the population interested. Another question: is this interest desired or is artificially propagated by the local elite?
Why was Kazan chosen again? To start with, the city has the best infrastructure after the Universiade. Secondly, the attitude of the authority of the republic is very positive. But it was not enough, so Kazan has got the greatest number of badminton players in Districts, schools, universities and cities. Kazan takes the lead in retraining of ordinary PE teachers to badminton coaches. It is the leader in Russia. And leader has difficulties, leader is always interested,' told Sergey Shakhrai.
Ordinarily opened European Team Championships
The opening of the very Championship was quite usual. The organizers even did not try to cause any strong emotional reactions. The ceremonies were more interesting in the corridors of the Gymnastics Center. There was organized a special event for orphan kids. Practically all representatives of the national team of Russia signed autographs for them. Rodion Kargaev, Ksenia Polikarpova, Anatoly Yartsev and Tatiana Bibik organized a real show for the kids. Then the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the National Badminton Federation of Russia Andrey Antropov and the president of the Badminton Federation of Russia Sergey Shakhrai presented the kids badminton rackets. There were too many rackets, so that the kids took two pieces each. This meeting ended with a group photo with the players of the national team.
Qualification for Rio
Meeting is just a meeting, but the heads worry about sports results too. In fact, the tournament held in Kazan is the last large-scale competition in the Old World before the Olympic Games. Each athlete of the Russian national team has the most important task that is to do his or her best. Especially girls should perform better in order to make Shakhrai happy.
'For us as well as for other European teams this competition has a colossal importance for the qualification for Rio because it is a home competition that will the last large-scale tournament held in the Old World,' told Sergey Shakhrai. 'We are convinced that we will participate in four competitions in Rio. There are problems in women's doubles due to Zhenya Kosetskaya's illness. But still we have the time till 5 May, and missing 3,800 points can be scored in other tournaments. For this reason, we cannot miss any tournament.'
Shakhrai is sure that, 'If we win a bronze like in London, I will probably be the happiest head of the Badminton Federation in the history of Russia. In principle, our girls have the mastery. I always make them believe in themselves and bite more than they can chew, be in the zone and win. Nothing is out of our depth.'
