The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Handball Federation of Russia Sergey Shishkarev congratulated the men’s national team on winning the international tournament and also supported Yevgeni Trefilov’s suggestion to rename the Cup of Friendship in memory of the two-time Olympic champion Anatoliy Evtushenko.
— I have repeatedly criticized the Russian team recently. I was particularly annoyed by the defeat by the same Belarusians in early November in Minsk. I didn’t like many things then. It was pleasure to look at our national team now. It confidently played in the final and didn’t allow the rival to lead in the score even once. The difference reached +10 during the match, what is surprising, considering the power of Belarusians.
Let me point out an excellent defense: the team coped with the first magnitude stars - Artem Korolek and Igor Belyavskiy. Goalkeeper Denis Zabolotin rescued the team.
Attack was very variable as well: any player could score a goal. The line-up looked more balanced, probably, the presence of Igor Karlov, Nikita Kamenev, Evfeniy Dzemin, who hadn’t been called for a long time, had an impact. Unfortunately, the leader of the national team and Polish Wisla Sergey Mark Kosorotov didn’t play due to an injury, but he worked with the team at the training session in Novogorsk. It’s a good start of 2026!
We often play with Belarus in the last four years. Principal rivals. Our national team won in friendly matches but Belarusians were the ones who constantly ranked first in four international tournaments in a row — in Mogilev, Moscow, Shiraz and Minsk. That’s why the current success is especially important. I congratulate the players and the coaching staff with it. The head of the Handball Federation of Belarus Vladimir Konoplev also admitted that we had absolutely deservedly won.
Unfortunately, I can’t end the post on a positive note.
Anatoliy Nikolaevich Evtushenko died in Austria on January 6 in his 92 year. Undoubtedly, it’s a great loss to our handball. Frankly speaking, an expression «the person-legend» is in the teeth, but how else to call a coach under whose leadership the USSR men’s national team won the Olympic gold medals twice — in 1976 in Montreal in 1988 in Seoul? There was also the silver of the Olympics in 1980 in Moscow and the victory at the World Championship in 1982.
Anatoliy Nikolaevich worked successfully in Kuwait, Germany, Austria, he was devoted to his favorite game until the last days. We met in Moscow, Vienna, discussed handball events, Anatoliy Nikolaevich’s opinion has always been important and valuable to me. I tried to help Evtushenko in solving certain life’s issues. He will be missed by those who love handball. Blessed memory!
Players, coaches and supporters honored the memory of Evtushenko with a moment of silence before the match Russia-Belarus at the Dynamo Arena. And Yevgeni Trefilov, another outstanding coach, who had also done very much for our sport, suggested naming the Cup of Friendship in honor of Evtushenko after hearing the news of his older friend’s passing. I support this idea, — Shishkarev wrote in his telegram channel.
Photo: shishkarev.ru
