Renowned Russian sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev, speaking to Eurasia Football, wished good luck to athletes from Central Asia ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.
“Athletes from Central Asia don’t win medals very often. But when representatives of neighboring countries succeed, I’m just as happy for them as I am for Russian athletes. I love Central Asia — wonderful people live there. I really hope to visit Uzbekistan again. I follow Kazakhstan closely and have celebrated its athletes’ victories since the days of skier Vladimir Smirnov and swimmer Dmitry Balandin. Kyrgyzstan has not yet won a medal at the Winter Olympics, but I believe the best is still ahead. So if they manage to seize their chance at the Olympics, I will be very happy. I send my best wishes to the fans and the athletes. Keep moving forward — toward victory!” Guberniev said.
Kazakhstan will have the largest delegation, with 36 athletes. The national ice hockey team failed to qualify once again, while figure skaters have returned to the Olympic stage. Kazakhstan’s squad for the Games includes:
Figure skating:
Mikhail Shaidorov, Sofia Samodelkina.
Freestyle moguls:
Yuliya Galysheva, Anastasiya Gorodko, Ayaulym Amrenova (flag bearer), Pavel Kolmakov.
Freestyle aerials:
Sherzod Khashirbaev, Asylkhan Asan, Dinmukhamed Raiymkulov, Roman Ivanov, Ayana Zholdas.
Biathlon:
Vladislav Kireev, Asset Dyussenov, Aisha Rakisheva, Milana Geneva.
Cross-country skiing:
Vitaliy Pukhkalo, Amirghali Muratbekov, Nail Bashmakov, Kseniya Shalygina, Nadezhda Stepashkina, Darya Ryazhko, Anna Melnik.
Speed skating:
Yevgeniy Koshkin, Nadezhda Morozova, Kristina Silaeva, Arina Ilyashchenko, Elizaveta Golubeva.
Short track:
Abzal Azhgaliyev, Denis Nikisha (flag bearer), Yana Khan, Olga Tikhonova.
Alpine skiing:
Rostislav Khokhlov, Aleksandra Skorokhodova.
Ski jumping:
Ilya Mizernykh, Danil Vasilyev.
Nordic combined:
Chingiz Rakparov.
Uzbekistan secured four quotas; however, the pair of former Russian figure skaters now representing Uzbekistan — Elena Geinish and Dmitry Chigiryev — will not be able to compete due to Chigiryev’s injury. He has ended his career and moved into coaching, and the duo has split up. The federation attempted to find Geinish a new partner — she trained in a pair with Spaniard Marco Zandron — but he did not have enough time to meet the eligibility requirements after previously competing under another flag.
As a result, Uzbekistan will be represented in Italy by two athletes:
Alpine skiing: Medet Nazarov.
Short track (first appearance): Daniil Eibog.
Kyrgyzstan will also send two athletes:
Alpine skiing: Timur Shakirov.
Cross-country skiing: Artur Saparbekov.
Tajikistan has missed the Winter Olympics for the third consecutive time. Turkmenistan has never competed at the Winter Games.
Russia will be represented by 13 athletes competing in a neutral status.
The 25th Winter Olympic Games will take place in Italy from February 6 to 22. Around 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries are expected to compete, with 116 medal events across 16 disciplines.
