SPORT The Times Thursday, November 25, 2010 11 Repeating their Borisov’s ‘golden’ autumn success BATE Borisov becomes Belarusian football champion once again

By Yuri Kovalev By Yuri Karpenko on a regular basis. Anatoly Kapsky, Chairman of BATE Belarusian athletes Th is has been an action Board, notes, however, that the return from World Sambo packed year for BATE. Earlier, team doesn’t expect a major Championship with they won the Belarusian Cup, reshuffl e. clutch of medals despite having failed to make Meanwhile, the national Our team has yet again much of an impression before- football team of ended confi rmed their star status hand. Th ey were knocked out their exclusively successful year by winning ten medals in of the Champions League but with an away match against Tashkent, competing against performed well in the Europa the little known Omani team. 26 other countries. Th e men League. Approval for the new Our squad travelled to Muscat captured fi ve medals (two stadium in Borisov was good where they left the host team gold, one silver and two news and, now, they are cel- without a chance, defeating bronze), as did the women ebrating their seventh Belaru- them 4:0. Krasnodar defense- (two silver and three bronze). sian championship title. man Alexander Martynovich Dmitry Bazylev (weight Of course, not all is rosy, scored twice, while BATE category under 68kg) and since Victor Goncharenko’s forward Vitaly Rodionov and Andrey Kazusenok (90kg) squad battled hard for their halfb ack for Chinese Shen- became world champions success. Th is year, their sched- zhen Vyacheslav Hleb claimed while Alexey Romanchik ule is more hectic than usual. one goal each. Th e Belarusian (74kg) took silver and Andrey Previously, battling on several squad was missing some its Kurlypo (52kg) and Yevgeny fronts simultaneously did not leading players: Alexander Semochkin (100kg) claimed hamper the team but, this sea- Hleb, Vitaly Kutuzov, Yuri bronze. Th e Belarusian men’s son, it engaged in more match- Zhevnov, Sergey Kornilenko team fi nished second overall, es. Th ose of the European Cup and Anton Putilo. Neverthe- aft er Russia. Georgia closed have drained their energy, so it less, the win was an easy one, the top three. was a challenge to participate as the opponent did not pose a

Meanwhile, Tatiana in the national championship. BELTA serious threat. Moskvina (48kg) and Irina Meanwhile, July and August BATE forward Maxim Skavych (with the ball) proves his mettle this season Th e national team of Bela- Iodkovskaya (above 80kg) proved tough for the squad, that BATE has stagnated. namo Minsk had no chance charenko. At the end of this rus, coached by Bernd Stange, took silver; bronze went as they were heartily criticised Returning to the European against BATE, with their season, he was in the spotlight, has now climbed to 40th posi- to Yekaterina Prokopenko following their defeat in Co- arenas and starring at home, ambitious plans to top the as many anticipated his retire- tion in the FIFA rankings (up (60kg), Anastasia Leshkova penhagen, Denmark, which BATE has proven that they are Belarusian football rankings ment. He denied the rumour from 42nd in October). Spain (64kg) and Yekaterina Rade- deprived them of their dream unequalled in Belarus. BATE crushed by an obviously more but admitted that some play- leads, followed by Holland, vich (72kg). of entering the Champions has taken Belarus’ champion- formidable rival. ers may leave BATE, allowing with Brazil closing the top three League. ship title for the fi ft h time in a BATE is Belarusian cham- the line-up to be strengthened. — their positions unchanged. However, their latest suc- row and for the seventh time pion for the third time with Th is is routine, with players FIFA will next update its rank- Polesie cess has curbed speculation in total. Former leader Dy- famed coach Victor Gon- leaving and substitutes found ings on December 15th. Cup goes Mirny-Bhupathi: to Denmark Strong Olympic impetus 2014 Sochi Winter tional events. Today, Belarus ing Minsk-Arena’s two pro- to London via Paris Belarusian national Olympics to facilitate is placed 36th in the world fessional ice rinks, training Belarusian-Indian duo hockey team loses at sport of curling in Belarus curling ratings, among 48 specialists in using the ma- win ATP tournament in home for fi rst time The Secretary General states. The Belarusian Curl- chinery and techniques, and Paris Despite beating Norway in of the National Olympic ing Federation is making organising curling training Mirny and Bhupathi have the last round of the fi ft h Pole- Committee, George Katu- every effort to improve its for judges and athletes. He defeated Mark Knowles (Ba- sie Cup (5:2) Eduard Zanko- lin, has told the President of position but we need train- has also suggested that the hamas) and Andy Ram (Israel) vets’ team has lost the main the European Curling Asso- ing and more developed Belarusian Curling Fed- in the fi nals — 7:5, 7:5, giving trophy to Denmark — 2:4. ciation, Andrew Smith, that technical equipment. eration hold an open day them their fi rst win since 2004, Between the two matches, the Minsk-Arena’s launch offers Mr. Smith has pledged to promote the new sport. and entry to the fi nals of the host team beat Slovenia 8:2; a wonderful opportunity to to provide the necessary Since 1998, at the Games Barclays ATP World Tour Fi- nevertheless, Denmark eventu- develop this new sport in assistance in several direc- held in Nagano, curling has nals in London. ally proved stronger. Belarus. The Arena is ready tions: purchasing new ice been admitted on the Olym- Mirny and Bhupathi know “Th e three matches in to host high level interna- cleaning machines and fill- pic programme. well the taste of victory. Be- were played in very tween 2002 and 2004, the duo high spirits. Unfortunately, in won seven prestigious titles. Successful tennis duo the fi rst match, we were not Expressive sport of dancing “We’ve reached the fi nals sev- ed Mahesh Bhupathi. “We successful in one period,” notes eral times but always lost the performed quite well and, now, the head coach of the Belaru- By Kirill Pirogov decisive matches. I’m extremely going to London, I’m confi dent sian squad. “In eight out of nine happy that, at last, we’ve won a we won’t let each other down.” periods, we’re happy with our Belarusian dancing duo tournament — rather than just Max Mirny, 33, has boasted performance but having sev- claim bronze at European separate matches,” Mirny told many wins over the past dec- eral players sent off the ice in Cup Belarus Open reporters in Paris. ade on French courts, playing the last match was disappoint- Th e international sports “Reaching the fi nals oft en with Nicklas Kulti. Since 1999, ing. Youth, enthusiasm and dancing tournament, the Be- means that, one day, you’ll win he has won at least one tourna- emotions clearly took over.” larus Open Championship, a tournament. I last won in ment every season; 2010 is no Mr. Zankovets sees nothing was held at Minsk’s Palace of Paris 12 years ago,” comment- exception. terrible in the Cup leaving Be- Sports for the sixth time. Th e larus, since his team performed beautiful and prestigious event in Gomel with an experimental gathers dance couples from the With view to Games line-up. CIS and beyond. Th is year, the Aalborg, Denmark, hosts group battle for a place in the Th e Belarusian under-20s event was held as part of the draw for fi nal tournament Euro-2011 fi nals, to be held

hockey team also took part in European Cup and within two BELTA of Junior European in Danish Aalborg, Aarhus, an international tournament world rating tournaments of Dancing pairs please Minsk audience Football Championship Herning and Viborg, kicking in Copenhagen, Denmark, the highest standing: the IDSF went to Germany. In addition to the com- 2011 off on June 11th, 2011. Th e fi - coached by Oleg Mikulchik. International Open Latin and In the IDSF International petitive part of the event, there Th e Belarusian junior nal is scheduled for June 25th Th ey are currently training (like Standard. Belarusian Artem Open Latin event, the most was a traditional demonstra- national team, coached by next year, with the results af- other Belarusian squads) for Kozyro and Anastasia Veslova prestigious, Russia claimed tive performance by the top Georgy Kondratiev, has been fecting eligibility for the 2012 the World Championship. Th e were placed third in the Euro- every prize, with gold captured couples. Brilliant Italian pair allocated to Group A, along- Olympics in London. squad defeated Latvia — 3:0, pean Cup for their ten Latin by Dmitry Pugachev and Yele- Domenico Soale and Gioia side Denmark, Iceland and Th e Belarusian junior foot- Austria — 7:6 (in overtime) and American and European danc- na Zyuzyukina. In the IDSF Cerasoli — multi-time world Switzerland. Its fi rst opponent ball team has twice reached the Finland — 5:2 but was crushed es. Meanwhile, Yuri Simachev International Open Standard, champions with their Europe- is destined to be Iceland. fi nal eight teams on the conti- by Denmark — 0:6. However, it and Anastasia Klokotova (of Victor Burchuladze and Valeria an programme — presented a Th e semi-fi nals will see nent. In both cases, we failed won the event over all. Russia) earned gold, and silver Agikyan of Russia came fi rst. spectacular show. the two best teams from each to reach the play-off s.