Kazakhstani pentathletes and fans remember 2013 year as the incredible success.
Astana Asian Modern Pentathlon Championship pentathlon and Qualifications for the Youth Olympic Games from Asia and Oceania was held for the first time. It was not in vein - native athletes won the highest step of the podium. In an exclusive interview with sk-sport.kz, the President of Kazakhstan Federation of Modern Pentathlon, vice President of the Asian Confederation of Modern Pentathlon Berik Mazhitovich Imashev shared his impression on performance of Kazakhstani pentathletes.
- As a result of this year, where two major tournaments at least took place - how do you assess the young shoots in your sport - what are the prospects and what are creative plans for the near future?
- Indeed, this year was very successful. If you notice, each year we have increase in the level of performances, representative branches of other countries. The popularity of the competition, we hold in our country, is growing. For example, the tournament Amangeldy Imanov. Wherever I am in the world, the professional pentathletes ask me the same question - about this tournament. They remember that there was always the Soviet Union and the championship – Imanov`s tournament was very famous in the world. The participation in this competition was always considered as a prestigious part in the rating. Many famous athletes came through a certain school here.
- Could you tell me about the participation of teams from the other countries?
- Yes. Their presence is very important for the growth of skill and competition. Last year, the Korean delegation came - and this year as well, this time we let this go by. At the World Congress - Federation one of the neighboring country requested financial assistance, but we do not ask for money. We ask representations of those countries, where the pentathlon is at a very high level, to come to our competitions. We ask world leaders to send us the first and the second team lineups. Over the past two or three years our young people won the Open Cup in France in team competitions. The development in regions has gone. Imanov`s tournament came from Kyzylorda and Taraz. To date, in Kyzylorda, for example, modern pentathlon is the fourth sport in popularity - after boxing, wrestling and weightlifting. That says a lot.
That is, if to develop pentathlon purposefully and systematically, you can return it to its former popularity.
- But the most important event of the year is probably the Asian Championship in Astana?
- Yes, indeed. This is a great success. We made the most adapted to the new realities of competition - the rules have been made more modern. We must understand that we are still at the very beginning of the path - reviving our sport. It`s necessary to know about Korea and China - where the level of the modern pentathlon is just incredible. Pentathlon is a sport where you need good sports infrastructure, very much. The material base is the first. It is clear that when there is a drop in the economy, it is immediately reflected on the sport - as happened in the 90s of the last century. A strong economic and cultural development country can afford the Modern Pentathlon, because it includes the noble sports - fencing, horse riding, and swimming, shooting. The members of royal families always are present on the pentathlon competition at the Olympic Games.
- Returning to the young talent and new trends in the modern pentathlon Kazakhstan. Who is reliant on?
- Pavel Ilyashenko is in the men's team - the World Championship silver junior medal winner. He is always in the top ten or twenty; we want him to show a better result. Of course, bringing up his shift in the modern pentathlon is called a "mush" One man is not a warrior – we have a lot of strong athletes – “mush”, who later will be a leader or a few real champions. Elmir Alimzhanov became the Asian champion in fencing; there is our merit, because the pentathlon sparring partners are members of the fencing team. The training fights are important, by the way, it`s very interesting and beautiful. We have the rules, and they have another- it's such an interesting experience exchange.
The second most important thing is swimming or better swimmers are the foundation of pentathlon. And often, when pentathlon coach comes to the swimming section, the scandal begins. That`s to say, luring the most gifted. In Astana it`s easier - there is no such conflict, as in Almaty. And many of the swimmers moved to us, and I'll tell, they are promising. I will not sound the names, not to offend. Now it is important to understand the mass sports - all kinds - for us are important - as in many other kinds of potential pentathlon. This year the team of Kazakhstan took part in the XV World Championship in Biathl and Triathl, and our athletes have shown good results.
At least, I can definitely say that international federation expects a certain burst of our activity. They see how we develop, keep us under scrutiny. The world leaders strongly believe in themselves, but realize that can expect from us any surprises.
Author: Balzhan Beisenova
Source: sk-sport.kz