‘Tatarstan’ team is the 3rd after a short program at Universiade-2009

Competitions of in synchronous skating started at the World Winter Universiade in Harbin on February 23.

Russian national team, which consists of Kazan ‘Tatarstan’ team sportsmen, demonstrated the third result after a short program.

Senior trainer of ‘Tatarstan’ team Dilyara Gurikova gave comments about her trainees’ performance to the sport information agency ‘Ves Sport’.

“I think the team showed good performance,” Dilyara Gurikova said. “It is the first time we take part in such a large-scale tournament as the Universiade. There is much nervousness due to medal hopes which are placed in us. It is difficult to deal with it on a psychological level, that’s why before coming out on ice we sing ‘Kalinka’, ‘Katyusha’, Russian national anthem and repeat wonderful words of Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev “We can!”. Despite all nervousness, we have performed the short program very well. The third place is a good result. Teams of Sweden and Finland, which are ahead of us, are considered to be trendsetters in synchronous skating. I hope our sportsmen will believe in themselves after today’s performance and will skate much better tomorrow,” she was quoted as saying.

Russian team has got 61.59 points. Teams of Sweden and Finland are leading with 77.56 and 70.10 points correspondingly.