Daria Romanova won the Russian championship in pankration

With full dedication

Daria Romanova is 19 years old. Lives in the Chekhov district, studies at the Provincial College as a teacher of physical education, at the same time receives an additional specialty – a coach. Upon graduation, he plans to continue his studies by correspondence and work in his specialty.

Perhaps Daria will be the first female pankration coach in Serpukhov. Our heroine has been practicing martial arts since she was 11 years old. All these years she has been training with Anatoly Chesnokov – it was he who instilled in her a love for sports and helped her to embark on the path of great victories.

“Working with Daria is a real pleasure. She is an example for all athletes, stands out for her perseverance and desire to win. She is very responsible and disciplined, she trains with full dedication, so it is easy and interesting for us to work,” says Anatoly Chesnokov.

– What helps Daria achieve success?

– Tenacity and perseverance. She is an example for all athletes who want to achieve something more.

– How do you motivate Daria?

– I say that you have to be a champion, because there is only one champion, but there are many winners. She can achieve whatever she wants. Daria herself is motivated and confident in her abilities, so I just help her achieve her goals.

“I can’t do without training”

Dasha says that her father taught sports from childhood: “The punishment was replaced by push-ups,” the girl smiles. At first I played football, then I got tired of it.

– And dad suggested trying martial arts.

So Dasha got into the hand-to-hand combat section. Then she smoothly switched to pankration, began to participate in competitions. Sports disciplines are related, there are slight differences, so I reorganized quickly.

– I resisted for the first six months, then I got used to it and realized that I couldn’t do without training.

He has been training at the Krasnye Krylya base for seven years. Six days a week.

– If I can’t get to training, in the evening I make up for myself: running, shadow boxing, working on wrestling harnesses.

Combining sports with studies is not easy: to come from Chekhov to Serpukhov, then to Krasnye Krylya, from there home…

– Over time, she got into a rut. I study until fifteen o’clock, then I train all evening.

“Now I want a candy bar”

– Tell me, how did you prepare for the Russian championship?

– First, I passed the selection at the championship of the Central Federal District, I had a little rest. Then I trained without overloads. I had to pay attention to food. I really love cereal bars. The coach always jokes: “Dasha without a candy bar is not Dasha.” But in a month you have to remove everything superfluous from the diet.

Before the competition, one and a half kilograms “interfered”, she drove to get into her weight category – forty-nine kg. We studied the tactics of conducting a fight with a coach. But I still did everything my way (smiles – “MK”).

The championship of Russia was held in Ufa. The best athletes from 59 regions of Russia participated in the competition. The championship has become the largest in the history of the Russian Pankration Federation – almost a thousand participants! Dasha’s fights were on the last day of the competition.

– I had to watch my weight, although in Bashkiria it is very difficult. Everyone enjoyed the local cuisine, and I ate dates and tea.

And not in vain – at the long-awaited weigh-in, everything was in order.

“I felt like I was going to win. Often the outcome of the fight depends not only on the preparation, but also on the mood.

Daria’s first rival was from Irkutsk.

“They have a close-knit and strong team. My fight was on the last day, almost the entire team from the Moscow region had already left. The opponent was actively supported… And I heard only my coach. But the Moscow region did not yield to Irkutsk, – Dasha smiles. – I won the fight quickly with the help of a painful hold.

After five fights, Dasha had to have a final fight with a rival from Samara.

– We noticed with the coach that in the last fight this girl often threw a blow with her right straight leg to the body. She came out to win. The score was equal for a long time. The opponent made two illegal actions, including blows to the head. But in pankration, not only the strongest wins, but also the smartest. As a result, my opponent went beyond the carpet. Three remarks – disqualification. My victory.

– What were your emotions after the victory?

– I knew that the family was watching the broadcast of my fight. Having won, I realized that I had justified their expectations. And I thought, “Now I want a candy bar.”

Impossible is possible

It is worth noting that the title of champion of all-Russian competitions is a double victory for Dasha. About a year ago, the girl underwent surgery on her knee joints. In such a short period, she managed not only to recover, but also to prove: the impossible is possible.

– As soon as my stitches were removed, I began to stretch, stand on my toes … I took two bricks, set them up and climbed them, like a ladder – and so on one and a half thousand times. In order for the leg to bend, it was necessary to tie loads and lift – bend and unbend. When the process started, I began to pump up my legs – it took all summer.

In small steps, Dasha went to recovery. Every day is the same. For three or four hours. Not sparing myself, I saw the goal – I did not see the barriers. Went to training on crutches. I took dumbbells, elastic bands, worked out on the horizontal bar. Then again on crutches – and home.

“Go to the end”

Dasha is the only girl in the section. Sparring and practice sessions always take place with guys. With the fair sex, he fights only at competitions.

– The fights are different: the girls hit thoughtlessly and aggressively, the championships are emotional.

He says that he never had to use wrestling techniques in life, but he walks calmly along the dark streets. She has more than a hundred medals in her piggy bank.

– I can’t imagine my life without pankration anymore.

The girl devotes all her free time to training. Despite the fact that there are many guys around, Dasha’s heart is still free. He says that in the section with the guys there are friendly relations.

— Dash, what does victory mean to you?

– Victory – when you overcome yourself, recover and go to your goal – you get a long-awaited sports title. For me it is more expensive than any medals.

Following the results of the championship in Ufa, Daria received the sports category of the Candidate Master of Sports in wrestling, the Pankration discipline. Now getting ready for next season.

– Ahead – summer, training camp … And then for the first time we will go to the adult championship. We will fulfill the masters of sports! I am grateful to the coach for believing in me. Anatoly Mikhailovich is the only one who sees the whole process of preparation, and not just the result – titles and awards. At competitions, he experiences no less than my relatives!

For those who only have to fight for titles and titles, Daria wants to believe in herself.

– Do not listen to anyone who advises quitting sports. And most importantly – go to the end!

From the entire editorial staff of MK in Serpukhov, we congratulate Daria Romanova and coach Anatoly Chesnokov on a brilliant victory! We wish worthy rivals, new achievements, excellent results, and that all dreams come true!