August 22, 2010 : Training in the smoke

Before the World Championship ... in less that a month. We have done a lot of work, but we have not reached our highest potential...

Our training takes place at Novogorsk, where the heat was unbearable, and with lots of smog, we continued to work. Despite the fact that in all the rooms and the gym there were air conditioners, smoke lights were everywhere. It was really hard to breathe, his eyes constantly red ...

I remember that even a morning of training, the girls came with masks and try - just for laughing- to run in this uniform, "but, of course, it was impossible!

When it became very difficult to train, our coach, has organized a trip to San Petersburg, but the tide has turned, all of the smoke has disappeared, and our team had a sigh of relief!

We carried out several games in Slovakia and Novogorske. In Slovakia, we lost against the local team and the Brazilian team, but we won against Serbia, and Novogorsk was twice defeated Poland. Of course, there are still many elements in which we must persevere - in peculiar the rebond. Besides, we need to play - to work on collective action in defense and attack. Now, in the number of candidates, there are many young players who are new and well apprenent requirements of high level sport.

Unfortunately, our team has problems with injuries, the last game of the foot sprain Lena Volkova, Olga Arteshina and Luda Sapova health until the train across the group. But I hope that before the start of official meetings, all players recover and obtain the optimal shape.

This year, Oksana Rakhmatulina has been appointed as team manager. At first we were very surprised to see Oksana not on the court with us like in the past... But it took a little time to realize her new position, and we gradually got used to access her to get various informations. Oksana has the big advantage to have the knowledge of the basket from the inside as a former international player. Its presence in the team allows easier communication between the federation and the team, which allows much faster to solve all organizational problems.

The third period went in coming to an end, and the coaching staff gives players a few days of rest. Taking advantage of this break, I go to my beloved city of St. Petersburg. I have not been there for over a year, I really want to see friends and relatives, and walk in the many beautiful places of the city!

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