It was the 19th May 2012, the 4th day of the fights for the titles of the European Champions. The competitors of the 65kg senior class were gathering at the entrance to the platform. Among them, there was armwrestler, looking almost as a teenager, very tall and slim with a tattoo on his neck. His silhouette and the way he moves suggest that he is a high jump competitor preparing for the flight over the crossbar. His bouncing, wriggling, he has a little blank look. A man standing behind him is all eyes. Gray-haired man of sharp facial features wearing Russian national team’s tracksuit, a young man wearing a T-shirt with a sign “Russia” on his slim strong, back.

For the whole time of the eliminations they are in contact with each other. Among the fights the young man is still looking as a high jumper. Seething with energy and huge concentration can be seen. I’m trying to peep at what he’s doing. I’m following him approaching the table. As many other players of the classes lighter than 90kg he is anxious. I don’t know if you confirm my observations that the heavier are the players the more “beary” is their behaviour before fights.

About 1.00 p.m. the eliminations of the 65kg class ended. Ended favourably for two men who I was observing for all the time. We have some time to talk. As befits an old school man, I turned with a question to the older of them. Probably the readers have already known that it’s Igor Akhmedshin Senior. A legend of the Russian and also European (and also world) Armwrestling. I’ll remind the younger readers that, an international Moscow tournament ‘Zloty Niedzwiedz’ was established due to his contribution. The tournament which was a patter for Igor Mazurenko while creating the first “Zloty Tur Cup”. The number of the titles which is owned by Igor Akhmedshin Senior could be a subject of a separate article. I’ll tell you dear readers that (as a fan of our sport) I love meeting such people. Engagement, knowledge and reference – I could have been talking to Igor Akhmedshin for hours, but we had only a half one. Below I’ll try to tell you what I carried out of the conversation.

I forgot to add, that he younger, Igor also Akhmedshin. I’ll be calling him ‘Junior’, although he participated senior class on the 19^th May.

Hello Igor! How did Igor doi?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior (proudly): He’s in the semifinal.

How to distinguish you?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior (smiling): You know, the way my name is written is a little different from what my son’s is.

I see it’s a kind of simplification. Does Igor have any brothers or sisters? Are there any more sportsmen in your family?  

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: I have four kids. Igora, is now a debutant of senior class. Masza is a lawyer. Sasza is a publisher. Irina in the best Russian harpist among her peers.

Congratulation! You have great kids. Igor, you’ve been engaged in our sport for the dawn of history. Tell us, how do you find the changes that took place during that time?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: The improve is impressive in every aspect. Long ago we had just pieces of paper, pencils, drawing-pins and an advertisement boards on the wall near the changing room. It was hard for the audience to find out who is fighting with whom. Today, everything is clear and readable. Today’s technique makes it possible to conduct the tournaments at six tables and clearly know how the fight is proceeding. The organizational level – perfect! Having ID by the players and scanning each of them after each fight prevents form mistakes in protocols.  It should be stressed that the level of television broadcast, number of cameras, assembly, all of the additives which make the performance more attractive. What was made here, the way the most important tournaments in our sport are taking place now is of a great importance to the image of the brand.

The brand which Armwrestling is.

How did Armwrestling change in sports respect?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: Ou sport has changed drastically, in respect of the level and character. Once there was for example John Brzenk, and when he was coming to the tournaments it could have been said in advance that he would win. Today, there are not favourites, there are no authorities! Once the champion had the title for two, three years. Now the level is so matched that it’s changing. New and newer players are appearing and want to match the ‘former’ champions and many of that can do that.

Igor, what’s in your opinion the most beautiful in Armwrestling?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: Expression! Thanks to that, everyone can be carried away by the excitement which hovering over the table. It’s so impressing! The fights and expression are the strength of the sport. Armwrestling is like a ballet.

How should it be understood?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: When a usual spectator, not an expert is looking at a ballet – they feel the beauty, expression and precision of the art, just the art. Similar is being a part of the audience of the Armwrestling tournaments. Spectators ‘form the street’ have they own impressions and experts (ballet or sports) can also see all the subtleties, all the ‘tricks’ taking place at the table. Our sport may be watched on a few levels of engagement, just like a ballet.

I’d like to ask you about training issues. Let’s assume we have two identical players of the same ‘parameters’.  One of them will be training only at the and the second will also add training at the gym. The time they spend on trainings will be the same. Who will be a better Armwrestling player after a year?

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: I’m a scientist and I would have to conduct an experiment with a certain group of people. But is such a short time I think it would be half a half. In my opinion the most important is the role of a trainer, how he’s leading his wards. It’s a matter of setting yourself certain goals, levels of next starts. We should be aware of that the key issue is what stay’s in a competitors mind!

And so it passed to 4.00 p.m. Igor for the conversation. It’s time to take a seat on the stand and root for Igor.

Igor Akhmedshin Senior: Greetings to the readers. I’m going to see my son’s fight.

The cup-finals began.

Igor Akhmedshin Junior lost the fight for a golden medal with a Turk. With fouls, for moving in referee’s setting. Igor claimed that the movement was forced by the opponent. The protest was submitted. The main CAF referee did not accept it. In his debut in the senior class at the European Championships Igor Akhmedshin Junior ranked second. I’m already waiting for the confrontation of this player with Arslan Serhat. I won’t pretend an impartial journalist. I got to like Igor Senior and Igor Junior. I’ll be following them!

As I’m not impartial and I’m looking at the table with passion – I’ll also write, what I think of the controversial final between the Russian and the Turk. Well, the aim of the fight is to show the superiority of one competitor over the other. I stress – in a fight. Is the ‘trick’ in the shape of forcing the opponent’s move in referee’s setting a part of the fight? Theoretically it is. We wouldn’t have grudge (formal ones) if the boxer put his opponent of stride pulling a face during the fight. Everything happening at the table is the fight. But it would be better if the referees tried not to let the referees’ settings happen at all. And that’s all! They should discipline competitors at the beginning so that the referees’ setting would not be used.

That’s my opinion, what do you think of that?

SENIOR CLASS RESULTS, right arm 65 kg

1 - ARSLAN SERHAT Turkey

2 - IGOR AKHMEDSHIN Russia

3 - ZOHRAB MAHSIMOV Azerbaijan
 

PeSzy