By Vestnik Kavkaza
Today the Russian team has won a gold medal in the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. The swimming team has won the medley relay (4x100). On Saturday the boxing qualifiers start. While young athletes are becoming Olympic champions in China, in Russia preparations are beginning for the Olympic Games 2016 in Brazil.
The Boxing Championships of Russia will take place in Rostov-on-Don on August 21-30 in three categories: AIBA PB, WSB, and amateur boxing. According to the head coach of the Russian national boxing team, Alexander Lebzyaka, it will be the main platform for selection of the best athletes to the Olympic team. “The strongest boxers will come there. The Championships will be a qualification to the national team, where boxers will fight in three categories: amateur boxing; WSB – five three-minute rounds without helmets and T-shirts; and AIBA PB – 6-10 rounds, the final includes 10 three-minute rounds without helmets and T-shirts. There are Olympic licenses in all three categories,” Lebzyaka says.
The head coach of the national team says that all four participants in the semi-finals of the Russian Championships, which will take place August 28th, will get into the team. “And we have four reserve places – those who participate in the quarterfinals. There will be many young boxers. But experienced athletes will participate as well, they are also in good physical condition. So we will see who is better trained,” Lebzyaka notes and says that he is looking forward to the Russian Championships.
The senior coach of the Russian national boxing team, Philipp Yakovlev, stresses that preparation for qualifications to the Olympic Games starts right after the Russian Championships – in October. The only thing which concerns the coach is a heavy schedule for 2015, as the European Olympic Games in Baku will take place.
Alexander Lebzyaka told Vestnik Kavkaza that the national team would definitely go to the European Games: “The whole of Europe and our main rivals will be there; moreover, we could win a license for the Olympics there. Baku athletes are great guys, they have world champions, silver and bronze medal holders. They have a good school… We are also training. If we win, the victory will be most pleasant. They are strong guys, a good team.”
