The sports school “Batyr” opened after the overhaul in Kazan

849 judo and sambo fighters train in the renovated complex, 7 of them are members of the Russian national team.

(KZN.RU, February 27, Alena Miroshnichenko). The renewed building of the republican sports school of the Olympic reserve “Batyr” was presented to media representatives during a press tour in Kazan today. Almaz Mingulov, the deputy minister of Sports of the RT, and Alexander Tarasov, a representative of the Judo Federation of the RT, told journalists about the features of the complex and the works carried out as part of the overhaul.

The sports complex first opened in 1985. For several decades, there have been numerous trainings and competitions in sambo, judo, and other sports. In 2018, the facility had a major overhaul, and training was resumed there on February 5, 2019. As part of the overhaul, the roof was replaced, the facade was repaired, the entrance groups were completed, internal finishing works were carried out, utilities were replaced, furniture in the locker rooms was renewed, and the surrounding area was improved.

A. Mingulov told reporters that the need to repair the building was long overdue. “The complex was partially renewed at the Universiade. But now, by the decision of Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, a major overhaul has been carried out. The reason was also the fact that residents of nearby areas asked to upgrade the complex, taking into account its location in the center of Kazan. The most modern design solutions are applied there. At the same time, the concept took into account that martial arts originated in the east, so they used Oriental styling in design. This project was developed by the same designer who participated in the update of the Cultural Center “Moskovsky”, he said.

The total area of the building today is 4025 square meters. There is a large hall on the ground floor with three carpets and 360 seats for spectators. It is a special pride of the complex and the sports school, because the main team of the RT trains there, as well as seven students who are part of the Russian team in various kinds of martial arts. About 60 people can train in the hall at the same time. “Republican and Russian competitions can be held there. The hall is complex, so it is possible to hold tournaments in other types of martial arts here”, said A. Mingulov.

“I would like to note that there are great floors with absorbers that soften the fall of athletes. In addition, the hall has lighting with the ability to switch to different modes for training, for competitions, and for video shooting”, said A. Tarasov.

The complex is also equipped with separate halls for sambo and judo, a sauna, locker rooms with showers, a buffet, a wardrobe, a massage room, and others. In addition, a modern gym was equipped with about 100 exercise machines. Moreover, it is available for training for both judo and sambo fighters, students of the republican sports school, and for residents of nearby areas.

Today 849 people are engaged in the sports school. However, the complex can accommodate about 1000 athletes, according to the Judo Federation of the RT. The guys are coached by a professional team along with the head coach of the Russian junior team. In total, the coaching staff of the complex has 23 people: 13 of them are judo coaches, 10 ones are Sambo coaches. “Probably, everyone can confirm that champions of both Tatarstan and Russia came out of the school “Batyr”, marked the deputy minister of Sport. One of the successful students of the “Batyr” is Niyaz Zhibilalov, who is now at a training camp in Sochi. He is a candidate for the Russian Olympic team and can take part in the Tokyo Olympiad, said A. Tarasov.

Coaches and students of the sports complex are satisfied with the new look and atmosphere of the building. “Today it is one of the complexes that really meet the requirements of our profile”, said Vladimir Drachko, the head coach of the Tatarstan national team in Judo. He trained more than a dozen world champions and nearly 20 European champions.