Azerbaijan, silver medalist of European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijani national team became the silver medalist of the 30th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, held in Baku on June 13-15.
The event was organized at the National Gymnastics Arena. Some 258 gymnasts from 33 countries competed for nine sets of awards in the tournament that was held in Azerbaijan's capital for the third time.
Performing with three balls and two ribbons and accompanied by the prominent Azerbaijani singer Muslim Magomayev's 'Blue Eternity' song, country's team gained 17.650 points, leaving behind athletes from Bulgaria who came third with 17.583 points.
Russian team became the first, scoring 18.366 points. Meanwhile, Russian Irina Annenkova became the two-time champion of the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, gaining 15.816 points after performing with the ribbon. Ukrainian Valeriya Hanina scored 15.750 points and became the second, while Israeli Linoy Ashram won 'bronze', scoring 15.650 points.
Azerbaijan's Jala Piriyeva gained 16.300 points, performing with the hoop and became the second. Thus, she left behind Belarus and Bulgaria. Russian Yulia Bravikova became the winner in this category gaining 16.750 points.
The Bulgarian senior team won gold in group exercises with ten clubs at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, gaining 17.766 points, while Russian gymnasts won silver medals scoring 17.633 points. A Spanish team settled for the third place with 17.550 points. The Azerbaijani team finished sixth with 17.166 points.
Russian team won the gold performing in group all-around events, leaving behind Italy and Spain, while in individual all-around events Russian Yana Kudravtseva also became the winner. Belarusian Melitina Staniouta and Ukrainian Ganna Rizatdinova became the second and the third respectively.
Also, Azerbaijan took the third place in the team championship among juniors, gaining 94.364 points, while Russia took the first place, scoring 96.815 points and Belarus became the third with 94.715 points.
Based on the results of all four performances, Azerbaijani gymnast Jala Pirieva scored 63.565 points. Thus, she got 16.300 points for composition with a ball, 15.366 points for composition with a hoop, 15.983 points for composition with maces, and 16.116 points - for composition with a ribbon.
Another Azerbaijani gymnast Zuleikha Ismayilova, in turn, scored 61.073 points, based on the overall results. She received 15.083 points for composition with the hoop, 15.266 points for composition with a ball, 15.191 points for composition with maces, and 15.533 points for composition with a ribbon.
European Gymnastics Union's (UEG) flag was handed over to the Belarusian delegation at the closing ceremony of the 30th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Baku on June 15.
The flag was presented by Vice President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Altay Hasanov to Member of the UEG Executive Committee Athanasios Vasiliadis, who then handed it over to President of the Belarus Gymnastics Association Vladimir Karpovich.
Later, the guests shared their impressions on the event.
Multiple World and European Champion, Olympic medalist, Belarusian gymnast Lyubov Cherkashina told journalists that the Championships have been organized at a high level.
"The Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Baku is a landmark event in terms of preparation for the first European Games in Baku in 2015," she said. "Both the organizers and athletes can test the Arena and the Olympic village. Everything has been organized at a high level."
Representative of the Russian delegation Dmitry Turgenev was also impressed with the organization of the tournament.
"I attended such an event as the European Championships for the first time. I liked everything very much," he said, adding that he was impressed with the new National Gymnastics Arena, where the Championship was held.
Representative of the Italian national team at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships Julia Namatenko, in turn, said the conditions created for the rhythmic gymnastics development are better in Azerbaijan than in Europe.
Namatenko stressed that the championship was organized at the highest level , with all the necessary conditions met, adding that Baku's National Gymnastics Arena is a grand architectural structure.
"I liked the city. To be honest, I could not even imagine that Baku is such a beautiful city and its residents are so hospitable. I am sure that Azerbaijan will host such grand competitions in the future because all the necessary conditions have been created," she said.
The next European rhythmic gymnastics championship will be held in Minsk on April 29-May 3, 2015.