Will Niyaz Bilalov step onto tatami of the 2016 European Championships in Tatarstan?
Waiting for the European Judo Championships in Kazan
On 20-24 April, Kazan will become the final stage of the appointment of the national judo teams for the Olympic Games in Rio. The capital will host a European Championships of one of the most ancient combat sport in history. Realnoe Vremya tells about the organization of prestigious competition, development of fighting sport in Tatarstan and talks with coaches of a new Olympic-scale 'star' of judo of Tatarstan Niyaz Bilalov.
In sports terms, Kazan is well known in the whole world, first of all, due to the efforts of the representatives of competitive sports. Ak Bars, Rubin, UNICS and Zenit-Kazan did their best. However, individual sports also follow this way increasing their contribution to the prestige of Tatarstan as a European and maybe a world sports centre. The Universiade 2013 and FINA World Championships did their bit here. This year the tendency will be continued. In April, Tatarstan will host the European Judo Championships. Judo, by the way, is an Olympic sport.
From kuresh to judo
Tatarstan always paid attention to fighting sports. It is no surprise because the republic, in fact, is the birthplace of one of the types of sports. I'm speaking about kuresh, of course. Nevertheless, the classic ones – judo, sambo and combat sport – are not forgotten here. In this context, the organization of the European Judo Championships in Kazan is the next important step in the popularization of the most type of sports – judo.
Speaking about the importance of the European Judo Championships in Kazan, we should note that it multiplies the chances of Russia to obtain a passport to the Olympic Games. It was stated by the PM of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov these days at a meeting dedicated to the preparation of the next big event in sports Tatarstan.
European Judo Championships in Kazan multiplies the chances of Russia to obtain a passport to Rio
'These championships will be a qualification stage of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. And this fact raises the status of the competitions. The host country of the European Championships has the right to present more participants that seriously increases the odds of the national team of Russia to obtain tickets to the Olympic Games in Brazil,' said the Prime Minister.
It should be reminded that the competition will take place on 20-24 April. The domestic arena of Ak Bars will be the main arena of the European Championships Tatneft-Arena. The choice of the competition site is not surprising. Tatneft-Arena gained experience in hosting combat sports competitions. TNA fights are held here. And a big box evening with the participation of Povetkin and Lebedev and other stars of world box took place in Tatneft-Arena last year.
Now Kazan will become a fighting centre of 400 best judokas of the Old World. The fighters will compete for 16 medal sets. It became known that the spectators will be told the history of judo and the culture of Russia and Tatarstan. The European Championships are a serious sports event. This is why it is no wonder that the federal channel Match TV organizes live transmissions of the combats.
Tatarstan talent
Meanwhile, Ildar Khalikov also noted that there was one representative of Tatarstan in the national team of Russia who is a 20-year Niyaz Bilalov, a repeated winner of many tournaments and pupil of Olimpiysky Sports School (Naberezhnye Chelny). Moreover, Niyaz Bilalov successfully performed in the last U23 European Championships.
The young athlete won a bronze medal in Bratislava in the men's −100 kg division. He won a victory over Nikita Svirid (Belarus), Djalil Shukurov (Azerbaijan) and Rezo Tsukulidze (Georgia). Niyaz is a pupil of Olimpiysky Sports School; his coach is the Master of Sport Konstantin Tolmachev. The sports staff of Realnoe Vremya decided not to bother the fighter of Tatarstan, who is in Adler with the national team, and talked to the personal mentor of the sportsman Konstantin Tolmachev and the head coach of men's national team of Russia Dmitry Morozov. The latter told about the selection criteria for the 2016 Olympic Games and plans for medals in Rio.
'Trade secret' of the head coach of the national team of Russia
'The Olympic team selection has been made in a majority of weight divisions. I won't say the selection criteria because it is a 'trade secret', a very serious matter. It will be a totality of factors. In the end, we will present our choice to the administration of the Judo Federation of the Russian Federation. They will make the final decision,' told Dmitry Morozov.
Will the results of the European Championships taken into account?
They will, maybe in some weight divisions. In which ones? I cannot tell. You cannot imagine what happens here before the Olympic Games. We cannot lay our cards on the table in advance…
Will you tell us about your official plans for medal and expectations of the coaching staff for the 2016 Olympic Games?
It is no secret that we plan one gold and two bronze medals in men's team. As we think, every weight category of Russia has athletes capable of fighting for medals. Only God knows what will happen.
Bilalov is a guy with a future
The European Championships will be held in Tatarstan. So, here another question arises. Does the local fighter Niyaz Bilalov chances to take part there?
We have not appointed the team yet, and we have no right to do it. First of all, it will be done by the Federation. For this reason, I cannot answer this question. As for Bilalov, this sportsman just started to compete at high international level, so it is difficult to forecast now. I think that this guy has a great future. We'll see.
The mentor of the fighter from Tatarstan is oriented to Tokyo 2020
In turn, Bilalov's personal mentor Konstantin Tolmachev expressed his opinion in a clearer way. Moreover, he told about the preparation of the Tatarstan fighter for his way to the first national team of Russia.
'At the end of 2015, Niyaz was in a camping in Tokyo where he took part in the Grand Slam tournament. He spent the beginning of 2016 in campings in Italy and Austria. Then he was included in the unofficial World Championships in Paris where he fought quite well. At present, he is in Adler with the national team of Russia,' told Konstantin Tolmachev.'
As I understood talking to Dmitry Morozov, we are not speaking about his participation in Rio. Are you preparing for Tokyo?
That's right. All in all Niyaz has joined the national team recently. The rating of the athletes of the national team includes 4 year of work. Niyaz, as a young athlete, cannot go to Rio. He is 21. Heavy weight divisions in the Olympic Games are represented by athletes from 25 years. And in Tokyo, he will have chances. The most important thing is to avoid injuries. Now he lacks stability. It takes time to mature.
More than 50% chances that Bilalov will take part in the Championships in Kazan
Could you estimate Niyaz's chances of taking part in the European Championships in Kazan?
I would not like to talk about it now, but he has chances. Niyaz stably fights, he participates in large competitions. What is more, Russia is the host country. It allows to give a larger list of Russian participants. The competition will be held in Tatarstan, so that I think that Niyaz will be taken into account. We have more than 50% chances. The preparation is at full speed. He stays at home for a maximum of 100 days in a year.
Could you tell us about Bilalov's positions in the national team? How did Niyaz manage to join the main team of the country?
Well, I will tell how we joined the first national team. Niyaz won a bronze medal in the U23 Championships of Russia two years ago, that is to say, he was 19. The head coach Ezio Gamba noticed him there. In the semifinal, Niyaz fought against Kazbek Zankishiev, who at that moment was a world-class athlete, European and World medalist. So, Gamba was interested in Niyaz's technique and manner of fighting. He was invited to try to fight in the national team, and he lived up their expectations. His current position in the national team is quite firm. It is necessary to take a step forward. Our orientation is Tokyo 2020.