Maksat Sharanov: "We Will Make Our Fans Proud with Medals" – National Biathlon Team Prepares for the Winter Season
Maksat, how do you evaluate last season’s results for our men's and women's teams?
It was a very successful season. Our men's team finished in the top 15 of the Nations Cup, which earned us four quotas for this season. The women's team also did a great job, securing three quotas. These results prove the high level of preparation and professionalism of our athletes and coaches.
What are the main goals for the team this season?
We have many important competitions ahead, but our main focus is on the Winter Asian Games. We can confidently say that we will bring medals to our fans. We also want to repeat our past success at the Universiade, where we won two golds, a silver, and a bronze. Additionally, this is a pre-olympic season, so our results will determine our qualification spots for the Olympic Games.
How did the summer training camps go in Slovenia, Germany and Estonia?
They were very productive. The athletes did a huge amount of work to improve their physical form and technical skills. In Pokljuka and Oberhof, we focused heavily on stamina and shooting techniques, which are key in biathlon.
What changes happened in the coaching staff and how did they affect the team?
We made major updates. Vladimir Korolkevich, who has great experience with teams from Slovenia, Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, became the head coach of the women's team. We also started working with a German shooting coach, Gerald Hoening, and our shooting has already improved.
Furthermore, we divided the men's team into two groups. The main World Cup team is trained by Aleksandr Mukhin. The second team, which competes in the IBU Cup, is now coached by Sergey Sokolovskiy, who previously worked with Lithuania and Belarus. These changes have significantly raised our training standards.
How do you see our chances at the Winter Asian Games, and how will you select the athletes?
We are confident in our team. Kazakhstan is the leader in Asian biathlon, and we want to prove it. The selection for the Games will depend entirely on the results of the international races in the first trimester of the season. This helps us see who is in the best physical form.
What is being done to help athletes recover and stay mentally strong?
For better recovery, we are cooperating with the "Performance Hub" created by the Ministry of Sports; they will work with us during our camp in Italy. The Federation also hired two manual therapists for the teams. Additionally, during our winter camp in Finland, the team will work with a sports psychologist from Great Britain to ensure everyone is mentally ready.
What can you say about the growth of biathlon culture in Kazakhstan?
We are happy to see that interest in biathlon is growing. Hosting the Youth and Junior World Championships in Shchuchinsk last year played a huge role in making the sport popular. Our fans always support us at the World Cup stages in Europe with Kazakhstan flags, and we truly appreciate it. It inspires us to win!
