Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Every year Azerbaijan hosts a number of sporting events, and the most common are gymnastics events. One of them is the 26th European Championships in Trampoline, Double Mini-Trampoline and Tumbling, which kicked off at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku on April 12.

The strongest senior and junior gymnasts of Europe are joining the event to run until April 15. More than 400 gymnasts from 25 federations are taking part at the Championships.

The four-day tournament combines four types of competitions – individual and synchronous jumping, as well as jumping on an acrobatic track (tumbling) and a double mini-trampoline.

The first day of the championships included qualifying competitions in trampoline jumping among juniors, as well as in double mini-trampoline jumping and tumbling among seniors. In addition, the final competitions in synchronized trampoline jumping were held at the end of the day among boys and girls in the junior age category.

Azerbaijan was represented by three athletes on the first day: Seljan Magsudova, Riyad Abbasov and Mikhail Malkin.

Having scored 75,700 points, Malkin became 4th, thus reaching the tumbling event finals. Vadim Afanasyev and Maxim Shlyakin from Russia, Rasmus Steffensen and Adam Mattisen from Denmark, Kristof Willerton and Greg Townley from the Great Britain, and Dmitry Novoselov from Belarus also advanced to the finals.

“It is always very responsible to perform at home,” Malkin told Trend after the qualifying round. “In general, I liked my performance in the qualification. I did not worry much, I confidently came out and did everything, and now I will prepare for the final.”

Calling his rivals from Russia, Denmark and Great Britain traditionally strong in tumbling, the gymnast noted he will try to win gold.

“Since this is the European Championships, the competition here is much higher than in other tournaments,” Malkin said, adding that he feels the support of his fans and friends.

On April 14, gymnasts (junior and senior) will perform in qualification both in individual and synchronous events.

On the last day of the competitions, medalists will be known in all four types of the gymnastics events (Individual Trampoline, Synchronized Trampoline, Double Mini-Trampoline, and Tumbling).

In accordance with the format of the European and World Championships, according to which the competition in the individual program consists of two qualifying rounds, within the championship in the individual program semi-finals will be held before the finals among 24 gymnasts showing the best result in the first round.

The European Championship is notable for the fact that in Baku juniors will be able to win licenses for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, and senior gymnasts – for the 2019 European Games.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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