Head coach of the Ukrainian men’s team – about the first official starts under his leadership
Head coach Ukrainian men’s biathlon team Nadezhda Belova commented on the performance of her players in the opening races of the season at the stage World Cup 2024/25 in Finnish Kontiolahti.
“I’m very pleased with the guys. This is the first start, there was a little uncertainty about what could happen. As a coach, I could appreciate that they could fight at a distance and shoot well. In this weather, I’m happy with the guys: the shooting was fast, confident, and they didn’t overexert themselves.”
“I love weather changes like this – let the biathletes know how to show character. Do I need to make adjustments or not? The technique on the course also changes when there is fresh snow. I’m glad they’re coping. I am glad that there is no failure – the work has been done, there is a good effect. We will talk to each individual individually and sort it out.”
Let us remind you that at the end of the 2023/24 season, the Ukrainian men’s team took 11th place in the Nations Cup and lost one quota for the World Cup. In the 2024/25 season, the blue-yellows will be able to field a maximum of four athletes.
In April, the Presidium of the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation approved the coaching staff of the Ukrainian national teams for the 2024/25 season. Nikolai Zots became the head coach of the women’s team, and Belova headed the men’s team instead of Juraj Sanitra.
Today the 2024/25 World Cup season started in the Finnish Kontiolahti. The Ukrainian team performed in both starting races. In the single mixed relay, Artem Tishchenko and Elena Gorodnaya took ninth place, and in the mixed relay, Ukraine (Anton Dudchenko, Vitaliy Mandzyn, Kristina Dmitrenko and Yulia Dzhima) finished sixth.
Tomorrow, December 1, two classic relay races will take place. In the men’s race, Ukraine will be represented by Dudchenko and Mandzyn, as well as season debutant Bogdan Tsymbal and experienced Dmitry Pidruchny, who missed the first day of competition for health reasons.
The KM-2024/25 stage in Kontiolahti will end on December 8. In addition to mixed and classic relays, it will also feature men’s and women’s short individual races, as well as sprints and mass starts.
Source: Sportarena
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