Fr om December 15 to 21, an international futsal tournament for the deaf was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The tournament featured the participation of the Russian national futsal team.

Eight teams from five countries took part in the competition, with two teams each from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, along with teams from Belarus and Uzbekistan. These teams were grouped into “A” and “B” for the tournament matches.

The group stage consisted of three rounds of matches played on a round-robin basis at the Gazprom Sports and Recreation Complex. The strongest teams then proceeded to knockout matches, with the semi-finals determining the finalists to compete for the top spots.

In the semi-final matches, Russia-1 faced off against Kazakhstan in a closely contested game that ended in a 2-2 draw. The Russians were ultimately defeated in a penalty shootout, allowing Kazakhstan to advance. Meanwhile, Russia-2 secured a place in the final by defeating Uzbekistan 7-2.

The final match for third place saw Russia-1 triumph over Uzbekistan with a score of 5-2, earning them the bronze medals. In the championship game, Russia-2 emerged victorious with a convincing 4-0 win over Kazakhstan.

During the awards ceremony, the organizers acknowledged and rewarded the winners and runners-up. Special recognition was given to the top scorer of the tournament, Sergey Krikun, and the best goalkeeper, Artem Radinsky (both from Russia-2).

For all fans and supporters, a recording of the final match between Russia-2 and Kazakhstan is available for viewing.

Vyacheslav Gutko, head coach of the Russian national futsal team: “The matches were good, and the team performed well. The first match, wh ere Russia-1 faced Kazakhstan, ended in a 2-2 draw. It was an interesting and instructive match wh ere the players displayed strong performance. They controlled the game, created numerous chances, but unfortunately, were unable to capitalize on many of them. The opponent seized their limited opportunities, leading to a shared result. Despite playing under tough circumstances with high intensity, I was satisfied with the team's effort. We discussed the mistakes made, addressed why we struggled to score, and focused on improving performance in crucial matches. The key takeaway was the learning moments from the game.

The second match for third and fourth place between Russia-1 and Uzbekistan was intense. It took a while for either team to score and utilize their advantage, but once they did, the victory was secured with confidence. Prior to the tournament, I emphasized that both Russia-1 and Russia-2 are strong teams, and this was echoed within the team. The tournament reaffirmed our team's strength.

The final match between Russia-2 and Kazakhstan was compelling, featuring a significant degree of competitiveness. The Kazakh team primarily played on the counterattack, prompting us to unleash our aggressive goalkeeper. This tactic effectively neutralized their attacks, resulting in a decisive victory for our team. I am grateful to the team for their efforts. Through this international experience, we gleaned valuable insights, which will guide our future work. It is rewarding to witness our team's progress and development as we move towards a collective goal of advancing futsal. The individual growth of athletes tournament after tournament reflects our positive trajectory and commitment to honing our skills”.

Text: Nurlan Tazhigulov

Photo: Grigori Remeniuk, Viacheslav Gutko

Translation: Daria Kudelina