The tournaments were taking place for two days (18th-19th February 2012) in Ramienskoje situated near Moscow.

The Russian Junior Championship are the tournaments for two age classes: youth and juniors. The age ranges are : youth 14-16, juniors 16-18. Of course for both male and female competitors. The number of the participants may make you jealous, but Russia is a huge country and we cannot compare with it. There were 324 players taking part – 190 (142 male and 48 female players) in juniors and 134 in youth. All the competitors represented 19 regions of Russia.

The Russian Junior Championship has been conducted by the Russian Armsport Association, which President is Aleksander Filimonov ( the Vice-president of the European Federation) from 2010. Aleksander Filimonov has been long taking care of the level and prestige of the competitions of young sportsmen, who could become not only the future legends of the Russian but also world Armwrestling. He is especially trying to popularise the idea of separate age classes for competitors under the age of 16 and 16-18. The reason for that is his conviction of the idea of rivalry giving young players an opportunity to “enter” the armwrestling world successfully. Aleksander Filimonov is trying to promote the attitude in Europe and all around the world.

How did the tournaments proceed? On the first day the youth were fighting on the right and left hand. The fights were taking place at 6 tables. Evening finals were accompanied by music and stage effect just like professional events. That was a real show, not inferior to many other events.

On the second day juniors were competing at the same 6 tables. The evening finals were as elegant and professional as on the previous day.

From the sports point of view it needs to be highlighted, that the sum of the biathlon is the score of the tournaments. A player who win on the left hand but does not take off on the right one has not chance to win a medal. It is caused by that competitions for young people should be based on symmetrical development of muscles and versatile fitness essential for further sports development.

Among the teams representing individual regions of Russia Osetia, should be distinguished, led by Aslanbek Enalgiev. There were 57 players of the region taking part and in almost every class they were ranking first. Also the representation of Ural led by Yury Zhilinsky. The whole crew wearing the same clothes with name URAL ARM were presenting, and above all fighting perfectly. How seriously is our discipline treated on Ural is proved by the fact that they have even hired a marketing specialist to promote every aspect of Armwrestling. Olesya Romanenko, a very talented girl, a composer and singer is taking care of marketing of Ural team.

What was the “Polish accent” at the Russian Championship? The fights were taking place on the official WAF tables produced by MAZURENKO ARMWRESTLING EQUIPMENT, and above all using an electronic system produced by Mazurenko Armwrestling Promotion. Our crew in preparing to the next visit in Russian at the Senior Championship on the 8th March. We will be testing a system of conducting competitions and… you’ll get to know soon in the next news.