Gamova: “Our volleyball is not at its lowest, but it has sunk”

Curator of national youth volleyball teams of Russia Ekaterina Gamova believes that the level of Russian volleyball without international departures is beginning to sag.

Russian volleyball players suspended from participation in international tournaments in the context of the situation in Ukraine.

– Does the lack of high-level competitive practice have a strong impact on the development of female athletes at this age?

– Unfortunately yes. I never met the teams of Tajikistan and Armenia on my way – we played in different tournaments according to the territorial principle, and in the biggest one they usually give up at an early stage of selection. Just recently, the U-19 World Championship ended. Our team won the last world championship in this age category. And the fact that they’re not playing it now is a big omission for their development.

“Does our own level help?”

– Our volleyball is not at a low level, but lately I think it has taken a dip. There are reasons for this, including financial ones. There are few high-level foreigners who come to us, since we are excluded from European Cup tournaments. Now they are more likely to go to Turkey, Italy, China,” Gamova told .