Natalia Obmochaeva
In the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games, held in Tokyo, the women’s team won without a defeat. Tatiana Kosheleva was injured back in the tournament in Turkey.
She traveled with the team to Japan, but has not played a single match. In addition, Lyubov Sokolova who plays for Fenerbahce didn’t go to the Land of the Rising Sun.
“Of course, I want to win the gold, we will make every effort. Now I want to rest, and then when we start to prepare, think only about the Olympics. Team that traveled to Tokyo can give a fight at the Olympics. We still have a good team”, Obmochaeva said in a telephone conversation.
She noted that at the tournament in Tokyo, lack of Kosheleva and Sokolova was felt. “They are the leaders of the team. But nevertheless, we have shown the result, and we will develop further, we’ll see. If it is necessary, we shall be able to play without them, but, of course, we hope they will play.” – said the agency.
The attacker of team believes that at the qualifying tournament in Turkey, where the Russians could not win a ticket for the Games in London, “it was easier” than in Tokyo. “In Turkey, we had stronger rivals. Tournament was immediately after the championship, we did not have the time to relax, adapt, and it was difficult to immediately switch to the team. In Japan, we knew that if we do not win, we do not get to go to the Olympics, and gave all our forces to win, “- she explained.
Obmochaeva shared the view that “the most difficult opponents in the tournament (in Tokyo) were Serbia, Korea and Japan.” “They were the hardest. Japan and Korea in every aspect, good defense. Serbs have good attack and block. Different complex teams,” – volleyball player said
