(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 22. A meeting with
Azerbaijani gymnast – winners and prize-winners of the 39 European
Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics, held in Baku on May 17-21, was
held at the National Gymnastics Arena on May 22, trend reports.
The meeting was attended by members of the senior team in group
exercises consisting of Gullu Aghalarzade, Laman Alimuradova,
Kamilla Aliyeva, Zeynab Hummatova, Yelizaveta Luzan and Darya
Sorokina, who won gold in exercises with three ribbons and two
balls at the championship, as well as bronze in the all-around, and
Zohra Aghamirova, who won the bronze medal in the program with the
ball.
The event was also attended by the members of the Azerbaijan
national rhythmic gymnastics team - Siyana Vasileva (coach),
Yevgeniya Vilyaeva (coach and judge) and Kamil Guliyev
(choreographer).
The opening speech at the event was delivered by Secretary
General of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF), Nurlana
Mammadzada, who highlighted that the Azerbaijani national team won
five medals at the 39th European Championship, and this is a
historic result.
Noting that the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, and
President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Aliyeva
shared on her Instagram account a publication on the occasion of
the victory of the Azerbaijani team in group exercises at the
championship in Baku, the gymnasts expressed gratitude for the
support and congratulations, as well as for the opportunity to
train and prepare for competitions in excellent conditions created
in the arena.
Assessing the results of the championship, the coach of the team
in group exercises Vasileva noted the successful performances of
the Azerbaijani gymnasts.
"It's quite difficult to perform at the home championship, there
were worries and a lot of responsibility. At competitions, we
compete with ourselves, our experiences, fears, and not with
rivals. Yes, I analyze the performances of other teams to know
their level. The goal of the coaches is to prepare the girls so
that when they come out on the carpet, they show their maximum. For
it, we focus on their preparation, both physical and
psychological," the team coach said.
Vasileva said that by time the World Cup starts, changes are
expected in the team's program in group exercises.
"We will work on an exercise with hoops. In general, if we talk
about how exercises are put, then we start with an idea, someone
can offer beautiful music, or the idea of costumes. For example,
for an exercise with five hoops, after hearing a composition with
national motifs, I thought that we should perform under it," she
noted.
Speaking about the competition, the coach highlighted that the
team works hard and is glad to participate in any competitions.
Choreographer Guliyev said that the team's programs in group
exercises differ not only in the degree of complexity, but also in
artistry.
"Compared to last year, this time our exercises were more
difficult. I hope we will show a good result at the World Cup. In
the meantime, we are still euphoric from the team's victory at the
European Championship. When we enter the training hall, a new stage
will start for us. In the meantime, we are enjoying this moment,
and I think we deserved it," Guliyev said.
Speaking about the result of Aghamirova, her coach Vilyaeva
stressed that she is a great fellow.
"When I found out about the results of Agamirova, I couldn't
hold back my tears. We have been working towards this for six
years, and I am happy that we have succeeded," Vilyaeva added.
Answering the question whether there is a leader in the team,
the members of the senior team in the group exercises emphasized
that the captain of the team is Laman Alimuradova.
"Each of us tries to support, help and advise each other because
we are one team. We are all glad and happy that we managed to win
the gold of the European Championship," Alimuradova added.
"Yes, we are a united team and we know each other well, we feel
when at a certain moment one of us needs support. This is the team
spirit when we are always there," Hummatova said.
"Each of us is unique, and we complement each other," Luzan
emphasized.
Aghalarzade noted that the won gold imposes even greater
responsibility.
"Having won the gold medal at the European Championship, we
understand that now we have to raise the bar, work even harder, and
demonstrate the result even better," she added.
Aghamirova also shared her impressions of participating in the
European Championship.
"I tried to perform to the maximum, and of course, I was glad to
win a medal. I want to thank everyone for their support because it
inspires us all," she added.
The 39th European Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics was held
on May 17-21 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku. Gymnasts
from 38 countries were participating in the European Championship
in Baku, held under the "Shine like a star" motto.
The Azerbaijani national team has five medals in the European
Championship.
Two bronze medals - in the all-around and in the five-ball
program, were won by the junior team in group exercises consisting
of Govhar Ibrahimova, Sakinakhanim Ismailzada, Madina Aslanova,
Ilahi Bahadirova, Ayan Sadigova, and Zahra Jafarova.
Moreover, gold in exercises with three ribbons and two balls,
and bronze in the all-around, were won by the senior team in group
exercises consisting of Gullu Aghalarzade, Laman Alimuradova,
Kamilla Aliyeva, Zeynab Hummatova, Yelizaveta Luzan and Darya
Sorokina, as well as a bronze medal - by Azerbaijani gymnast Zohra
Aghamirova in the ball program.
