April 3, 2018Tver Region

Tver athletes make their debut at the Russian Tug of War Championship

The Tver Region men's strongman team finished in the top five teams in the country in its weight category.

Last weekend, March 31 – April 1, St. Petersburg hosted the first official Russian Tug of War Championship. The national competition, held under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Sport, brought together 214 men and women from nine regions. The 2018 Russian Championship program determined winners and medalists among men's, women's and mixed teams of eight athletes each. The total weight of women's teams was not to exceed 560 kg, and of mixed teams 600 kg. Men's teams competed for medals in two categories: up to 720 kg and +720–1,000 kg.

Tver Region was represented at the Russian Championship by the men's team of the regional tug of war federation, which had recently received state accreditation. The team included Alexander Suvorov, Artyom Petrov, Igor Kervalidze, Ilya Grinev, Mikhail Tsyganov, Vseslav Nevorotin, Vyacheslav Alekseyev, Andrei Alexandrov and Ivan Vorobyov. Previously, Tver's "rope pullers" had mainly practiced arm sport.

Our fellow countrymen competed in the light weight category, up to 720 kg. They faced seven teams from the Republic of Ingushetia, St. Petersburg (two), Penza Region, the Republic of Udmurtia, the Republic of Dagestan and Leningrad Region.

The competition began with bouts in two subgroups (four teams in each). The Tver Region team faced, in turn, opponents from the Republic of Ingushetia, Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg.

In each bout the athletes were given two attempts. A 2:0 win earned three points, a loss (0:2) zero points, and a draw (1:1) one point for each team. The two best teams in each subgroup (by points scored) advanced to the semifinals, and the semifinal winners advanced to the final, where the championship title was decided.

In their debut match at the Russian Championship, the Tver strongmen lost to their opponents from Ingushetia 0:2. Alexander Suvorov and his teammates won their second bout against the Leningrad Region team 2:0.

Video of the bout between the Tver Region and Leningrad Region teams

The semifinal berth was decided in the third bout against the hosts from St. Petersburg. After a hard-fought struggle, the Tver team lost 0:2 and finished third in its subgroup. In the final standings, the Tver Region team, with three points, placed fifth out of eight.

"Most of our opponents have been doing the rope sport for quite a long time. We only began training and preparing for the Russian Championship at the start of the new year. For a debut, I think we performed very well, even finishing ahead of such experienced teams as those from the Republic of Udmurtia and Dagestan," said Alexander Suvorov, head of the Tver Region rope sport federation. "Now I can rightfully share my personal experience: the competition really turned out to be very exciting and interesting."

Final standings of the men's teams at the Russian Tug of War Championship (up to 720 kg)

1. Republic of Ingushetia;
2. St. Petersburg;
3. Penza Region;
4. St. Petersburg 2;
5. Tver Region;
6. Republic of Udmurtia;
7. Republic of Dagestan;
8. Leningrad Region.

According to Alexander Suvorov, the next tug of war competition in Tver Region will be held on May 5 in Torzhok as part of the regional Spartakiad for students of secondary vocational schools. In summer, in July, the Tver City Day celebrations will include the first Tver Region championship for mixed (4 women + 4 men) and men's teams.

Author: Andrei Krylov