SPORT The Minsk Times Thursday, October 4, 2012 11 Belarusian volleyball players to play at European Championship Belarusian men’s volleyball team through to European Championship finals

By Valentin Orlov our success,” notes Mr. Sideln- ikov. According to him, the task The squad, headed by famous is quite within our powers taking Russian coach Victor Sidelnikov, into account previous experi- has earned four victories across ence. six matches in the qualification “It’s too early to speak about round, securing itself first place plans; we first need to learn the in the next group, which compris- results of the draw and to assess es Turkey, the UK and Portugal. our rivals,” he adds. Initially, the task seemed At present, alongside Bela- rather daunting, as all the oppo- rus and national teams of Poland nents had experience of top tour- and Denmark — the hosts of the naments and the British had re- tournament — the place in the cently taken part in the Olympic European Championship finals Games. Moreover, after an early was secured by squads from the three match wins, the Belarusian Netherlands, the Czech Repub- squad’s leading players were suf- lic, , Germany, France, fering from injuries in the first Serbia, Italy, , Slovakia and match of the second round and, Bulgaria. The remaining three therefore, had to hope for a lucky entrants will become known outcome in the meeting of their next May when the winners of rivals. Croatia-Slovenia, Greece-Bel- Mr. Sidelnikov stresses that gium and Turkey-Latvia will be the success is the result of much determined. training. “I’ve achieved the result After the third round of the I was aiming for on becoming qualification our girls can join head of the national squad. You men on the European arena. In need a target and, after the last the second round of the qualify- the European Championship, ing tournament, hosted by Baku, held in spring 2010, we set a task Belarusians came second in for my trainees. Gradually, we BELTA Group C and the national team Exciting moments from the match are achieving it. I knew that we’re will face Slovakia in the play-offs able to do this. Meanwhile, 2013 fication is already history from essary conclusions for the future. the bar, raised to a new level, and for the right to perform at the European Championship quali- which we should make the nec- Our team will have to maintain prove not accidental character of European Championship. Belarusian NHL players Brilliant chances given continue season in Russia to future champions Minsk’s Olympic Reserve (named after three time Olympic champion Alexander Medved) solemnly opens at 35 Kalinovsky Street — where Vilnius Cinema was previously situated was cut — as is traditional. Mr. Chizh stressed that train- ing of young wrestlers will begin in about a month’s time. He dispelled rumours that ’ national team is to train at the venue, explaining, “Th ey won’t train here, as we are de- BELTA One of the world’s best goalkeepers, Pekka Rinne, joins Dinamo signing another House of Wrestling in Minsk, which will become the Lock-out paralysation of aft er the lock-out fi nishes, since his major base for the national team. world’s largest hockey league Nashville team decided to end his Rather, youngsters are to train at has favourable eff ect on contract this summer, making him this facility.” Kontinental Hockey League a free agent. Th ere was originally “Th e school is yet to open,” ex- Being temporarily unemployed, talk of him going to club plained Mr. Medved, adding, “We’re some top stars have de- CSKA, as Toronto Mikhail now seeking coaches and children.” cided to keep fi t and earn money by Grabovsky has done. Th e facility has several gyms for joining KHL teams, signifi cantly in- Unlike Kostitsyn, Grabovsky’s BELTA training, in addition to two rooms tensifying the intrigue on the Russian decision has caused quite a stir, as he Alexander Medved at launch of wrestling centre with fl oor mats where young sports- ice. Several Belarusian hockey play- announced that he’d only consider By Igor Grishin Belarusian wrestling. “Avoiding a men can demonstrate their mastery. ers who usually play with NHL clubs Minsk Yunost if he chose a Bela- repetition of the mistakes of the Shower rooms, cloakrooms, a sauna have taken such a decision. Even be- rusian squad (his former team as a Th e opening coincided with the 2012 London Olympics is vital,” he and a café ensure comfort while the fore the offi cial announcement of the junior). However, the team is cur- 75th birthday of the famous Bela- said; during the Games, Belarusian Hall of Wrestling Glory is sure to in- lock-out, Dinamo Minsk was named rently only playing in the Supreme rusian wrestler, Alexander Medved, wrestlers lost fi ve fi ghts for bronze. spire all who view it. It features the as their likely destination. Th eir as- Hockey League, which is below as noted by Minsk City Execu- Mr. Medved personally original awards of the most famous sistance would certainly prove help- Mikhail Grabovsky’s level. He has tive Committee Chairman Nikolai thanked all those present, saying, Belarusian wrestlers: Olympic cham- ful to the club, which has begun the announced his eagerness to help his Ladutko. Th e launch of the complex “This sports facility is unique for pions Oleg Karavayev, Kamandar new season frustratingly. However, new club win the major KHL trophy: pays tribute to Alexander Medved’s our city, allowing us to host com- Madzhidov and Alexander Medved. none of the NHL players have actu- the . contribution to Belarusian sport. petitions and training at all levels. It also showcases two unusual sculp- ally chosen to join Dinamo. Sergey Kostitsyn’s negotiations As the Chairman of the Belarusian I hope future champions will be tures: one of two fi ghting wrestlers Andrey Kostitsyn, the older of with Salavat Yulaev are likely Wrestling Federation, Yuri Chizh, nurtured here.” The sportsman and the other of a bear standing at the two brothers, was the fi rst to to prove successful, so fans may noted, the new sports facility will solemnly received the key to the the top of a podium, wearing three make his move, joining soon also see him at forthcoming greatly inspire the development of door and, afterwards, the ribbon Olympic medals. Traktor; the forward may even stay matches.