Hi Ivan, tell me how is your form a few days before the tournament?

Ivan Matiushenko: Welcome the readers! I feel perfect, preparations were good, according to plan. I’m taking part in A1 only on left hand, because right is regenerating after injury that I got after Russian Championships. I have to save it for some time.

What’s your attitude to your appearance and who do you see among important competitors?

Ivan: For the moment I don’t know the full list in my weight category. I estimate my chance in real terms, I take into account that my left hand not been my strong point. Of course, I would like to stand on the podium, but in such a group of opponents it’s not really possible. Usmanov, Semerenko, Тrubin, Каraev, Corijev, Tokarev and that’s not the full list of competitors in category 110kg on left hand. There will be many of sportsmen, I don’t think they’re better than me, but in fact it will all depend on their disposition on the tournament.

Who do you think will get to the final?

Ivan: In my opinion, in final will face Denis Cyplenkov and Andrey Pushkar. However, if both of them will met in the beginning, great chances in the eliminations would had Arsen Liliey and Rustam Babayey. I’ve heard that this year there won’t be Americans. If they will come, the podium would have looked differently. If it’s about the toughness, I don’t see anybody, who could rank with Devon Larratt, Michael Todd and Todd Huthings.

Whose fights are the most interesting for you?

Ivan: I would like to see Alan Karaey fighting, but I’ve heard that his appearance is not one hundred percent sure.

In your opinion, Karaey’s strength is in his mass or is he the competitor who fights technically.

Ivan: Alan has the advantage in long brake lever, huge wrist. His time he has also an excellent start speed. If it’s about the technic, ha hasn’t been marked out.

Terence Operman will arrive at A1. I interviewed him and it turned out that he perfectly remember your fight at the World Championships. How do you assess his chances in A1 tournament?

Ivan: Terence has an interesting and effective technic for those competitors who fight hook and side. His left is relatively weaker, but on right he can knock the top three.

And how do you get on with coming Moscow tournament? Do you think that it can become an annual event?

Ivan: I hope that A1 become an annual event in Moscow. This tournament has a potential to bring Armwrestling in Russia and in the world on a new level. I would like Nikolay Mishta to achieve his aims, connecting development of Armwrestling and carrying out that competition.

Julia Hazainova