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RUSSIA AND ITALY CONFIDENT TO QUALIFY
Final Olympic Qualification Tournament
Luxembourg, 4th May 2004. The Russian and Italian national ladies’ teams have a last chance in the world qualification tournament in Tokyo, Japan, next Saturday to gain a ticket to the important Olympic Summer Games of Athens, which will take place during the month of August. Their opponents will be Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and Thailand of whom the best three contenders plus the best Asian team will qualify.
The Italian ladies team will be arriving in Tokyo a week before tournament start in order to prepare intensively, whereas the Russian squad has decided to set up training camp in Kobe, which lies about 300 kilometers to the west of Tokyo. Asked about their chance of making it to the Olympics, both teams seem more than confident.
Presenting the whole successful squad that will also play together in the European Senior Championships 2004/05, Russia is already thinking about the main draw, mentioning China, Brazil, and the USA as the most difficult opponents to beat. Indeed, their intensive training schedule, including home training camps and several friendly games, should cast no doubt on the eventual qualification of Nikolay KARPOL’s players.
The hot favorites for the Italian national coach Marco BONITA to qualify for the Olympic Games are this year’s Yeltsin Cup winners Russia together with host Japan, Korea and, of course, their own national ladies team. However, Italy will not be able to line up their strongest team as Elisa TOGUT is still suffering from a slight knee injury but is expected to recover in time for the Games in Athens. “Even though we are not able to bring out our strongest team, we are very confident in reaching the Olympic Games”, declared BONITA. The current world champion will also have to start its preparation training without Simona RINIERI due to her participation in the national French championships. But the 27-year-old will join later in order to support her team in the deciding seven qualification matches in Tokyo from the 8th until the 16 th May.
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