Targeting Best Results in Winter Vancouver
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SPORT The Minsk Times Thursday, November 12, 2009 11 Natalia Berdnikova Targeting best results makes her mark in winter Vancouver By Kirill Pirogov Belarusian athlete performs National Olympic Committee shares its well in Fluid Fall Finale in plans 100 days before the opening of America’s Polk City Women’s water-skiing had never 21st Winter Olympic Games before seen such a complicated pro- gramme. Belarus’ Natalia Berdnikova By Yuri Karpenko coach of the national hockey set a pending women’s world tricks team, Glen Hanlon, a sad event. record of 9,080 points — to be ap- Of course, the question on However, the Head of the Belaru- proved by the International Waterski everyone’s lips is how many med- sian Hockey Federation, Vladimir & Wakeboard Federation’s Technical als we’ll earn; Belarus has never Naumov, is not despondent. Committee. Ms. Berdnikova will also returned without any from winter “Medals are won by hockey go into history as the fi rst water ski Olympics… players, rather than coaches. Tak- jumper to score over 9,000. “We hope that these Olympic ing into account that the team Several years ago, Natalia entered Games will be successful for us,” hasn’t changed since Hanlon’s an American college, since it off ered notes the First Vice President of resignation, there is no reason marvellous conditions for water ski- the National Olympic Committee, to lower expectations. We aim to ing. With access to warm water, regu- Gennady Alexeenko. The head of perform at least as well as we did lar training took her swift ly into the the Belarusian delegation in Van- at Salt Lake City, where we came world elite. In 2007, she was the fi rst couver, Dmitry Shichko, adds that fourth,” notes Mr. Naumov. Belarusian to win the prestigious the athletes will go to the Olympic The parade uniforms for the Masters Tournament in the USA, in Games aspiring ‘for the best re- Belarusian Olympic team have trampoline jumps. Later, she twice sults in their career’. been presented at a press confer- took medals at Linz, and, despite bad At present, Belarusians have ence. Developed by Bravo Busi- injuries over the past couple of years, won 33 tickets to these Olympics ness International from Hong claimed a number of major wins. In (23 for hockey and 10 for the bia- Kong, they are based on a moun- Polk City, she was aiming for a world thlon). Soon, freestyle athletes — taineering suit, with a special belt record. Having earned 8,800 points the major medal winners — will protecting the athlete’s back from in the qualifi cation round, Natalia re- be chosen; it’s hoped that six ski the wind. They have numerous in- newed the national record. Even the jumpers (4 men and 2 women) side pockets and ventilation holes, titled American athlete Mandy Night- will go to Vancouver. We’ll know as well as special pockets for mo- ingale looked quite modest beside by January 25th. Belarusian bile phones, CD players and sun the Belarusian. In the fi nals, Natalia sportsmen are also expected to do glasses. was so inspired that she scored her well at cross-country skiing, ice- The Olympic Games in Van- magnifi cent score of 9,080! She also skating, the short track, ski jump- couver will take place from Febru- took silver for her trampoline jumps, ing and mountaineering and, with ary 12th-28th, 2010, bringing to- behind Marion Mathieu of France. lesser probability, figure skating. gether around 3,000 athletes from Our coaches are inspired by Natalia’s Belarus’ Sports and Tourism 84 countries worldwide, compet- results, just ahead of the World Cup Minister, Oleg Kachan, has called ing for 86 sets of medals in 16 BELTA — to be held in Malaysia. Belarusian Olympic uniforms for athletes in Vancouver the recent resignation of the head sporting disciplines. Grand box evening at Minsk Arena Greatest Minsk to host super spectacle interests still next March country mate — ex-IBF champion Sergey Liakhov- lie ahead ich. In the preliminary matches of the tournament, our domestic professional BATE football players draw boxers’ ratings will be set. Th e Belarusian Federa- against Greek AEK Athens tion of Professional Boxing in Europa League group has signed a contract with K2 East Promotions, headed stage away match by Klitschko brothers, world super heavyweight champi- By Yuri Kovalev tacking fiercely. Under the ons among professionals in rivals’ pressure, the host three versions. Ustinov, 33, Belarus’ champions were team’s defence crumbled, reached the spotlight aft er a aiming to repeat their home allowing Vitaly Rodionov sparring match against Vi- match success (having met to finally score an equaliser REUTERS taly Klitschko. Ustinov has two weeks before in Minsk, after several unsuccessful The match in Athens saw many similar ‘battles’ won 19 professional boxing where BATE Borisov won attempts. sent-off 15 minutes before Naturally, BATE fans matches — 15 by knockout! 2:1). AEK was missing sev- In the middle of the the final whistle and, in are disappointed, having ALEXANDER RUZHECHKA Placed 11th in the WBA eral major players from its match, Alexander Volodko the lead, the hosts created hoped for a win. In the Alexander Ustinov rankings, he holds champi- team, with Dušan Bajević’s netted a ball with a long many dangerous moments. next, fifth, stage, Victor By Kirill Karin onship belts in kickboxing four leading defensemen shot. More opportunities However, Sergey Veremko Goncharenko’s trainees will and Muay Th ai. His coach is absent, giving the Belaru- presented themselves but did a wonderful job in goal, face Lisbon Benfica on De- Famed Belarusian su- the well-known Belarusian sians every chance of suc- were missed. Aft er a penalty, with the ball repeatedly cember 2nd; the latter has perweight boxer, EBA Eu- specialist Vladimir Zadiran. cess in their second match AEK forward Gustavo Man- hitting the post and the almost secured its place in ropean professional cham- The organisers of the in a row. duca levelled seven minutes crossbar. The match ended the play-offs but still needs pion, Alexander Ustinov, event expect various VIPs However, the match at from the break; aft er half in an etertaining 2:2 draw, to play in Minsk. The Ath- is scheduled to fight at the to attend, including the the Olympic Stadium in the time, the team from Athens enabling BATE to earn a ens club will welcome Liv- event next spring, meeting Governor of California, Greek capital began badly completely took the initia- fourth point and keep third erpool Everton, which isn’t a boxer from the top ten multi-time world body- for BATE. Ismael Blanco tive, controlling the game. place in its quartet. Any- doing well in the tourna- worldwide. Probable op- building champion Arnold scored in the first minute. Fortunately for BATE, way, the game did little to ment. The most interesting ponents are Evander Holy- Schwarzenegger, and the Slightly discouraged by Athens’ numerous attacks change either side’s chances moments for the Europa field, Riddick Bowe, Oleg former Mayor of New York, such a beginning, BATE didn’t result in goals. Nev- of reaching the round of 32 League’s I Group still lie Maskaev and Ustinov’s Rudolph Giuliani. gradually came to life, at- ertheless, Igor Shitov was from Group I. ahead..