No Paseka for Russia in Berne

Barely two weeks will elapse before the WAG European Championships begin in Berne, Switzerland, and the news we had been fearing has been confirmed : world vault gold medallist Maria Paseka is  off the Russian team while she nurses a back injury.  This leaves Russia significantly weakened for the coming competition, with co-star Viktoria Komova also missing from the line-up.  It is a little disappointing, but it seems the right decision to rest the gymnasts so that they can be at their best when and where it really matters.

Who will replace Paseka?  Valentina Rodionenko says that the youngster Natalia Kapitonova, who trains in Penza, has been chosen on the basis of her solid performances at national championships.  Well, we will have to wait and see - these announcements often turn out to be unreliable.  

I personally would prefer to see the dynamic Seda Tutkhalyan be given a chance at this level, but Kapitonova has certainly shown herself to be more reliable in recent competitions, and so is a predictable favourite with the ultra-careful Rodionenkos.  Perhaps she will avoid error and keep a silver or bronze medal safe for the team, but she is not an out and out game changer like Tutkhalyan could be.  Well, that is just my opinion, but maybe Natalia will prove me wrong!

The Russian WAG team for Berne will now be - Melnikova, Mustafina, Afanasyeva, Spiridonova, Kapitonova

I am trying to find details of TV coverage at the Europeans.  Can anyone help?

Source - http://www.newizv.ru/lenta/2016-05-18/239551-che-po-sportivnoj-gimnastike-propustit-ne-tolko-komova-no-i-paseka.html