By Vestnik Kavkaza
The head coach of the Russian national team, double Olympic champion Ilgar Mamedov, spoke to Vestnik Kavkaza about fencing in the South Caucasus and confirmed that the Russian team is going to the European Olympic games in Baku.
- Ilgar Yasharovich, can one speak about the development of fencing in the South Caucasus?
- We recently came from Tbilisi, where the European Championship (in the age group below 23) took place. There have not been competitions in the South of the former USSR for many years. I was glad that it took place in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The Russian team won 6 gold medals, 4 silver and 5 bronze - a good result. There was also a team of my first home country and I saw my father. He just went with his team to the lake base in Azerbaijan where they are preparing for the World Championship. It is sad that we do little sport in Baku with its many schools. Modern life dictates its conditions. There are strong sports - wrestling, boxing, but they are for men. What can girls do? I think, only fencing.
- What can you say about the Azerbaijani team? Is it strong? Can you mention someone?
- There is Sabina Mikina, she approaches the preparation very seriously, one should not underestimate her. Some people say: "Mikina? She is from that small Azerbaijan". But in fact at the World Championship, the Azerbaijani team beat China and France and took 4th place. 3rd went to the USA. But it was because an Italian judge made a mistake, the result was 43:45, and the USA won. Perhaps, if it had not been for that mistake, it would have been possible to get a bronze medal. My father said that two girls from his team are on maternity leave - this happens. The lack of athletes is a problem. I think that maybe our Russian girls will help them to prepare and perhaps in Kazan the team of Azerbaijan will show some good results.
- In 2015 Baku will host the first European Olympic Games. Is fencing included in the program? Will you go there?
- Fencing is there. There will be 300 people in the fencing program, 150 women, 150 men. But the time is tense. In June there is the European Championship, then the European Olympic Games in Baku, then the University Games, then the World Championships in Moscow in mid-July. So we will take part but we don't know yet who would go.
- What are your predictions?
- We want to bring medals from any competitions. I think we will come with many medals from the European Games too. Of course, we will try not to offend the Azerbaijani team and audience, but one still has to win.
