"With each season, the competition in Russia is growing"
Russian biathletes continue to have a season - their third - when they compete outside the international arena. Instead, they regularly run and shoot domestically at the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup. The fourth stage of the CC in the village of Demino, Yaroslavl region, took place last week. Anastasia Khalili took all three gold medals for women. She won in sprint, pursuit and mass start. In an interview with Izvestia, she shared her impressions of the performance in the conditions of plus temperature with puddles on the track and expressed hope to qualify for the Olympics-2026 in Italy.
"If we go back there, we will quickly realize what and how to do"
- How do you explain your successes in Demino?
- A lot of work done on myself and work on mistakes. I would like it to continue. After all, three victories in a row is a great success for me.
- How did you manage to win in such different conditions - plus temperature and melting snow at the pursuit race and minus and a little frost at the mass start?
- We are all in equal conditions. It's hard for everyone. And, perhaps, it gives strength when you realize that you are just one of those who found themselves in such a situation. Moreover, I've been performing well on the move all season. And my clean shooting in the sprint and pursuit races allowed me to take quiet victories. Although the weather conditions, with slush and puddles on the track, prevented good running, so shooting without a miss was very important. And on the mass start on the last day of the stage the weather was more pleasant - sunshine, a little frost and a flat track. But at the same time the wind increased, blowing in different directions.
Probably, this is connected with the fact that this time I didn't shoot so well - I made three misses. Although three penalty laps is not so much if we take into account that it was a contact race, when you have to fight not only with yourself, but also with your rivals. I had to compensate for all this with my moves on the track. Moreover, for the first time at this stage I went to the penalty laps, and there was a serious skating rink there. That's why I couldn't pass it quickly and had to win everything back on the track. And even with better weather, the track didn't become easier - there was a lot of ice. Especially there was a lot of ice on the exit from the line, where there was a puddle the day before. We had to act carefully and win back a lot later.
- Many of our biathletes say that the main thing to improve after returning to the international arena is the shooting speed.
- Yes, I think so too.
- And how do you estimate your shooting speed?
- I have a poor shooting speed - I shoot quite slowly. Now I'm not ready to shoot faster, because I don't want to lose quality. But really, at the World Cup people are already shooting 20 seconds lying down, and standing up someone even shot 12 seconds. This is a very high speed, because most of our athletes make their first shot only at 20 seconds after approaching the firing line.
- How is it with you so far?
- Well, for example, at the last sprint in Dyomino I shot 29 seconds lying down and 28 standing up. That's very slow, because, as I said, many athletes at the World Cup shoot 20 seconds lying down.
- How long will it take to catch up with them in this and other components when the Russians are returned to international competitions?
- I watch every World Cup race. The level there is very high, but I don't think it will take us long to reach it. If we go back there, we will boil there and we will quickly understand what and how to do. When you realize everybody is shooting fast, you have to adapt. And it shouldn't take long, because we all have skill, and constant practice inside Russia allows us not to fall too far behind those who compete at the World Cup. When I made my debut there a few years ago, I was also blown away by the speed. I had to adjust. But eventually I got used to it. I think that now, when we will be allowed to participate in international competitions, it will not be difficult. We just need to work on ourselves, no matter what the circumstances.
"The audience could be heard after every shot".
- Taking into account that you had time to participate in the World Cup until February 2022, is it hard to find motivation for the Commonwealth Cup and the Cup of Russia?
- No, it is not hard at all. Because every season the competition in Russia is growing. And you can not relax. All the girls are seriously training at the maximum, so the level of biathlon within the country is growing. If you look at the results of the current season, we have a very tight competition. Therefore, there is plenty of motivation. Moreover, there is still a lot to work on if you want to successfully return to the international arena.
- Does the presence of Belarusian girls help your progress a lot?
- Dinara Smolskaya and Anya Sola were among the leaders at the World Cup. Many are guided by them. I am among them. I follow them. Dinara works very qualitatively and quickly on the frontier - this is one of the indicators of the top level. And Anya is very fast on the track. And I am glad that this season I managed to get close to her and reach a high speed.
- Is the attendance of domestic competitions impressive?
- Yes, in the same Demino at the last stage you could hear the support of the stands. It was especially noticeable at the firing line, when the audience could be heard after every shot. And it is not only in Demino. In Ryazan at the last stage of the Russian Cup the people supported me well. And in general, compared to last season, there are quite a lot of fans on the stands. This is pleasing. Biathlon in Russia is developing, does not stand still. And I am glad that so many people come in rainy weather to watch and cheer for their favorite athletes.
- Is there any hope for a speedy return to the international arena next season after the swimmers, figure skaters and speed skaters were disbanded in December?
- Of course, we still have ongoing preparations for the Olympic Games, which will be next season. We believe and hope for the best. And despite any decisions, we are preparing to enter the international arena.
