Countdown to the European Judo Championships – a few days to go

In Tatarstan, fighting was always paid a special attention. It is no surprise if we take into account the fact that the republic is a motherland of one of the types of fighting. I'm speaking about kuresh, of course. However, the classical ones – judo, sambo and freestyle wrestling – are not forgotten. In this context, the organization of the European Judo Championships in Kazan is the next, the most important step in the popularization of the most ancient sport – judo. Yesterday the representatives of the Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan and Judo Federation of Tatarstan gathered journalists to remind about the coming start. The increase of the chances of Russia to obtain additional tickets to the Olympic Games 2016 is the keynote because the national team of Russia will have the 2016 European Championships at home. It means that we will have the largest delegation of judokas. Moreover, the European Championships will be one of the final Olympic qualifying tournaments to Rio.

Niyaz Bilalov – key hope of Tatarstan

Perspectives of judokas from Tatarstan in the European Championships is the most important and interesting topic for us. According to the executive director of Judo Federation of Tatarstan Murat Manapov, the composition of the Russian participants will be known at the beginning of the next week, and the final decision will be made by the manager general and head coaches of the national team. But there are chances for the participation of athletes from Tatarstan. 'Our sportsmen Niyaz Bilalov has demonstrated good results this year. He was given a chance to show himself, so what did he on the world stage. In general, we have a good tendency for development: about 10 people have been selected to compete in the European Championships this year for the first time in history. These athletes will defend the honour and the dignity of the republic at different levels and in weight divisions,' Manapov said.

According to Murat Manapov, the composition of the Russian participants will be known at the beginning of the next week

The sports staff of Realnoe Vremya can tell more about this topic. A 20-year-old Niyaz Bilalov is a repeated winner of different tournaments, a pupil of Olympiysky Sports School (Naberezhnye Chelny). It should be reminded that the judoka from Tatarstan Niyaz Bilalov showed a good result 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 had 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.

Selection principles for Rio 2016

'Will the results of the European Championships be 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… The Olympic team selection has been made in a majority of the 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,' Dmitry Morozov stated in a talk to a correspondent of Realnoe Vremya.

Meanwhile, it is no secret that we plan one gold and two bronze medals in the men's team in the 2016 Olympic Games. As Dmitry Morozov supposes, each weight category of Russia has athletes capable of fighting for medals. 'Only God knows what will happen,' Morozov concludes.

Niyaz Bilalov showed a good result in the last U23 European Championships

It takes time to mature

In turn, Bilalov's personal mentor Konstantin Tolmachev expressed his opinion clearer. '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. 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. Moreover, the mentor told about the preparation of the Tatarstan fighter for his way to the first national team of Russia.

'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.'

As for the very European Championships, it should be noted that Tatneft Arena, home arena of Ak Bars Hockey Club, will be the main site of the European competitions. The choice of the site is no wonder. 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.

'In Tatarstan, judo is actively developing, including sports schools,' Almaz Mingulov tells

'It is a modern sports venue that allows a large number of people to visit competitions. There will be a live transmission of competitions in four tatamis: preliminary and final matches. And tickets are already on sale, their price varies from 100 to 300 rubles. The tickets for the opening ceremony and finals are universal. We also urge all people to use public transport because parking space will be limited,' Almaz Mingulov, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport told the journalists. Yes, the tickets are not pricey, and there will be a spectacle to look at. According to the organizers, 712 participants (477 of them are athletes) have sent their entry forms. There will be 16 medal sets: 14 women's and men's weight categories and team competitions.

Putin will come

The functionary did not forget to tell about the development of judo in the republic. 'In Tatarstan, judo is actively developing, including sports schools that make up 163 in the republic, and 8 schools more have opened this year. There are specialized schools in Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny that develop judo. At present about 5,500 people are doing this sport in Tatarstan, and it is quite a big number,' Almaz Mingulov concluded.

The participants of the meeting calmed down all people who came there – the main fan of judo in Russia still plans to visit Kazan during the Championships. Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport. The 2016 IIHF World Championship will be the main topic for the discussion. The head of the country will probably visit the European Judo Championships. It is also planned to talk about the preparation of the Russian national team for the 2018 Winter Olympics.