Sports Ministry names best Russian sportsmen

2018 Olympic champions, ice hockey player Pavel Datsyuk and figure skater Alina Zagitova, as well as the national football team’s head coach Stanislav Cherchesov received the National Sports Award.

Alina Zagitova, an Olympic champion who currently holds world records for points earned in women’s short program, free skating and the combination of both, was named this year’s best female athlete.

The prize in the "best coach" category went to Stanislav Cherchesov, who led the Russian national team to the historic quarterfinal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Russia, TASS reported.

Russian Sports Ministry awards its National Sports Award on an annual basis to encourage professional achievements of athletes, coaches and other specialists related to physical culture and sports.