Kazakhstan's pentathletes showed the best result in the end of Asian Championship in Astana.
Pavel Ilyashenko rewrote the national pentathlon history, who won the "gold" in individual competition, as well as became the best in the national team of Kazakhstan in the team competition. The trio-Pavel Ilyashenko, Rustem Sabirkhuzin, Andrei Soldatov scored 16728 points and was ahead of Kyrgyzstan`s and China`s teams. Women's team comprised of Yulia Kolegova, Xenia Alexandrova and Daria Khalzova took the third place behind their rivals from China and South Korea. In the mixed relay , Leonid Zimarev and Yulia Kolegova won the silver medal. To get know, how was it difficult and responsible to perform for our homeland athletes on the home championship of continental scale, we decided to ask the head coach of Kazakhstan team Vadim Chudnovsky .
- Vadim Maxovich, first of all, congratulations to the magnificent result. Before the start of the championship you very neatly expressed the chances of our team, when the tournament ended in triumph, could we talk about the fine calculation and fruitful preparation for a competition?
- Men's team worked perfectly, the result speaks for itself, the first place in individual competition and the first place in team competition. For women's team with the absence of the leaders it was harder to deal with the leading Asian athletes, but we have earned a medal. Kolegova and Zimarev with dignity performed in the mixed relay. The boys are not left without a medal, especially I`d like to note Zimarev, who showed the excellent results of 1140 points in fencing. Despite the fact that now it`s hard to fight with Koreans and Chinese athletes, just because there are a lot more athletes involved in this kind of sport, the competition there is furious, but the adults were able to perform well at this time. This suggests that the dynamics of the Kazakh pentathlon is good, the formation of structure in the regions is developing. We will open the new section to search new talents.
- Was it difficult to perform in the home championship or, as they say, the house and the walls help?
- Well, of course , they help. We came to Astana the week before to practice on sport facilities. On the other hand, of course, we had the sense of responsibility that we needed to perform well at home,a kind of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is a positive thing, on the othe, it`s a great nervous strain. But most importantly, I wanted to mention is to express my special gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan Federation of Modern Pentathlon Berik Imashev for the highest level of competition. Since he`s come to pentathlon, in our country over the last couple of years, a new level by creating the most favorable conditions for the athletes has been risen. Our branches in the regions of Kazakhstan were opened. Accordingly, all this could affect the results of our pentathletes. We have become stronger, more confident and more professional. But there is no limit to perfection ahead of the World Cup, the Olympics and a lot of other bright sporting events. We still must wrestle for the best pentathlete`s title.
- Modern pentathlon competitions of this level has taken place for the first time in our country. How far you managed to meet international standards?
- We had time to talk with almost all of the guests, athletes, coaches and international functionaries, who unanimously noted the excellent organization. Everyone loved to be in the capital. They noted the modern level of our sports facilities. Hippodrome and cycle track received lots of positive, although we had a little bit to convert it for the shooting zone and made pists. To be short, everyone loved and everyone was happy. One Australian journalist has shared with us that she just didn`t expect to see anything like that. She was sincerely delighted with the quality of the competition and the city itself. I think that not only she was impressed by what she saw.
- After such compliments can you aim to conduct the world championship?
- Maybe. Now, when Japan refused the hosting of Asian Championship and qualifications because of the climatic disasters. We are in the process of discussing this issue. Perhaps, Kazakhstan will take this responsibility in 2015. The experience of this hosting fully admist that we are able to spend Olympic qualifications.
- The season is over, now is likely to be some time off , and then back into the fight?
- There is no time to relax. We start to implement plans for fruitful implementation of the pre-Olympic cycle. We`ll start it in Kazakhstan, in Almaty , and the first field meetings are scheduled in the Issyk -Kul with the involvement of a large group of athletes on competition due to the international calendar.
- Can we say now that the backbone of the national team is formed and subsequently the bet will be placed on these athletes?
- There are leaders in the team for sure, but for now, we will attract new athletes. Our goal is to increase the number of decent athletes on the national team. That is now, Zimarev has improved and confidently gets in the adult national team. There are other promising sportsmen and women, we will try to bring to view many young people. Gradually, there is a competition and it`s good.