My next interlocutor, a day before the start of the fights at Euro Arm 2012 in Gdansk is the boss of the Russian team and the vice-president of the EAF - Alexander Filimonov. I start with a simple question.
Alexander, how many medal will the Russians win at the championships?
Alexander: I can guarantee that every player will win at least one medal, and I’m sure of that.
Taking into consideration the number of the players in your team (over 150 people) you will need an additional bus or even a plane to come back. Sasha, tell us something about the line-up of this huge team.
Alexander: This year we don’t have “Number Ones” only. Many champions are saving their strength or are getting ready for the World Championships. The core of our team are the players form 4th and 5th places of this year’s Russian Championships.
During the EAF congress you stressed the matter of disabled armwrestlers. I know, that on Russia they’re treated in a special way. Tell us more about it.
Alexander: Armwrestling of the disabled people started simultaneously with our whole sport. So it was at the times of the Soviet Union and so it is now in Russia. Disabled people had already started at the first Moscow Championships. The most important is that many of them are acting important functions in our country. For example – Vladimir Krupiennikov – multiple medalist of the most important tournaments is the member of the Russian Parliament. Thanks to him, a special TV channel directed especially for disabled people was established in Russia. In the world there are only three such TV channels, in the USA, Australia and now, Russia. The next ‘ambassador’ of our sport is Aleksey Ashapatov. He’s also been multiple European and world Armwrestling medallist. Then he engaged in athletics in disabled class and as a player he took part in Olympics. He took part in ‘throwing’ events (shot, javelin). Thanks to his activity our discipline is getting more prestigious and more popular. Armwrestling of the disabled people is a unique disciple. Sportsmen suffering legs paresis may revel huge strength and abilities during the fight. The essence of the sport seems to be created for every sportsmen, including those who are moving in wheelchairs and are blind. That’s why our aim is to introduce the sport into the program of the Olympics and the Universiade. We’ll ask the Polish Federation to help us in preparations of the presentation, which will be shown in London. Things are looking up.
In your team there were always many women. Is it so also this time?
Alexander: This time we also have many women among us. Traditionally they should be the ones to bring more medals than men. It is so, because in Russia Armwrestling is really popular among women. There are many events where new female player are applying for. However the competition among women from other countries started to increase. It’s not so easy to win medals any more. Women from Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine and of course Snezana Babayev as a player form Slovakia appeared. There is one more thing which distinguishes our female team – the Russian players are the most beautiful ones!
Here I’d like to interject that I generally agree with your opinion as to the beauty of the female players, but Snezana Babayev is for me the candidate for the Miss Euro Arm. Now, tell me something about family team – you have a few of them.
Alexander: Armwrestling is a family sport. We have a few such teams in Russia. I’ll start with Hamidulins. The mother is the honoured sportsmen, European and world champion. The father is an honoured Russian trainer. They have three sons, who are also successful in our sport. This “Family Team” are the inhabitants of Tatarstan. They are popular and the whole region is proud of such sportsmen. We have also two beautiful sisters, Armwrestling players – Nikishovas. They are both really beautiful and they are both champions. They come from Siberia. Of course All of the fans know the name Zoloyev. But in the family, apart from Hadzimurat, there are also many other great players and a new generation of armwrestlers is now starting their adventure with our sports. As of course the father and the son – Ahmiedshyns. The younger one is taking part in the Euro Arm for the first time,
Supposedly Władimir Putin is the supporter of the Armwrestling?
Alexander: We have in our seat a photo of Vladimir Putin at the table. We are proud of that, and we for sure feel his support for Armwrestling.
Now tell us of the professional part of our sport in Russia. What the A1 will be?
Alexander: I’d like to invite everyone to this tournament! Let’s start with that it is a kind of relay. Many years ago there was a Zloty Niedzwiedz in Moscow. Then your Zloty Tur took over its role, and extremely developed as the NEMIROFF WORLD CUP. Now everyone will see, at the Moscow A1, what level we will be able to achieve! We’re expecting a lot of excitement and a performance on such a level that our sport has never seen. It will be the best in every aspect. The account will be shown on channel Russia 2 and will be accessible for millions of people. Not every player has a chance to enter the podium on such a level or even win more than one fight. But these will be prestigious tournaments, not only for medallists, but also for those, who come later. The fact that they fight with such legendary players as John Brzenk – will be as ennobling as participation in the Olympics.
Sasha, junior, veteran and disabled classes start in a day. All the teams are in venue, the EAF congress, referees’ training, weigh0ins of the first groups of sportsmen have taken place. What do you now think of the tournaments?
Alexander: Honestly, I’ll tell you that I’ve seen almost the whole Word and I love this port! As to the organization, everything is as it should be. Poland has always been leading in this field. And now I’m getting to be afraid of you in the respect of sport. I don’t think you’ll be able to take all the medals from us, but you have a numerous team and in respect of sport these can be the best championships for Poland.
Thank you for the talk and have a nice stay in Tricity.
Alexander: Thank you, and come to A1 to Moscow.
