Penza, 2 February 2012. PenzaNews. Formal opening of competitions on minilapta (Russian ball game) on Cup of Russian Lapta Federation took place in sports center “Olympiysky” in Penza on Wednesday, February 1.

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According to president of Russian Lapta Federation Yury Sapunov, this kind of sport can become a national one.

“Many years ago Russian officers played lapta but then it have been forgotten unfortunately. We want lapta became a national sport. It learns to cooperate in collective and to aim at achievement of the general result. Who already was fond of this game, opens for itself the special world of rivalry, strategic thinking, positive emotions and passion,” he underlined.

Teams of Penza and Tula took part in the first match. The owners of match won a confident victory, the score was 51:1.

According to the senior coach of lapta team of the Penza region Nikolay Pomyakshev, local sportsmen have good chances to become prize-winners.

“Our men team plays successfully. They became the third in the zone championship of Russia in Belgorod and the second of the Cup of Black Sea,” he specified, having added that for a women team the primary goal is to leave a subgroup.