THE CUP OF GRACES

Baku hosted yet another significant sporting event - the World Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation has already organised the third international event since the beginning of 2017.

The World Cup was attended by 94 gymnasts from 21 countries. 37 athletes participated in individual competitions, and 57 in group exercises as part of ten teams. Azerbaijan was represented by the silver and bronze medalist of the European Championships among juniors Zhala Piriyeva, Zohra Aghamirova, a group exercise team consisting of Siyana Vasilyeva, Diana Doman, Alexandra Platonova, Aishen Bayramova and Elif Zeyper Celeb, who were the silver medalists of European championships.

The leader of the team in rhythmic gymnastics was forced to miss the tournament in Baku because of the injury received at the competitions in France. The trainers decided not to burden the athlete before the start of the Fourth Islamic Solidarity Games, where her participation is planned.

In exercises with a hoop, the Russian athlete Arina Averina won the gold medal. Alexandra Soldatova (Russia) and Alina Gornoska (Belarus) won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Victoria Weinberg-Filanovsky (Israel) received the highest score from the judges for exercises with clubs. Alexandra Soldatova and Arina Averina, both from Russia, took the second and third places.

Bulgarian athlete Neviana Vladinova won the gold medal in exercises with a ribbon. Arina Averina (Russia) and Alina Gornoska (Belarus) were ranked the second and the third, respectively.

In group exercises with ribbons, the Italian team was ranked the first. Belarus and Bulgaria took the second and the third places, respectively.

The team of Ukraine was the first with exercises with three balls and two jumping ropes. Bulgaria is the second, Belarus is the third.

Azerbaijani athlete Zhala Piriyeva, although not a winner of the World Cup, was awarded good marks from the experts. "I felt confident. Performing at the home arena requires more responsibility. I thank the fans for their support. I was ready from the physical point of view, the main thing was to calm down in morally, and with this I managed. The results could be better, but I solved the main question. The most important was the faith of the head coach Mariana Vasilyeva and the individual coach Yasena Stoneva," said Zhala Piriyeva.

Enlisted for the World Cup just before the start of the competition, Zohra Aghamirova performed all her exercises accurately, having coped with the excitement at her first tournament among adults.

"I replaced the injured Marina Durunda. I participated for the first time in the World Cup. It's not easy to play at the tournament with adults, plus in Baku. This is an additional responsibility. I thank Mariana Vasilyeva for her trust, this is very important. I think I did well, it just takes time to get into the number of winners. I need to train more. Most of the elements I did without errors. The World Cup has become a great experience and an incentive for me. At the next competitions, I will do everything possible to win medals," said Zohra Aghamirova.

The International Gymnastics Federation expressed its gratitude to the Azerbaijan Federation for the high level of organization of the World Cup.

Athletes Alexandra Soldatova, Ariana Averina, Victoria Weinberg-Filanovsky, Neviana Vladinova also expressed satisfaction with the level of organization.

The World Cup has become a real festival for the fans in the stands of the National Gymnastic Complex. Athletes and fans will long remember the scenery, lighting in the arena, the opening ceremony.

Very soon, the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games will start in Baku, which includes for the first time three kinds of gymnastics - artistic, as well as gymnastics among men and women. Competitions in the National gymnastics arena will be held during May 12-15.

Azerbaijan will be represented as follows: Marina Durunda, Zhala Piriyeva, Zohra Aghamirova – artistic gymnastics; Yuliya Inshina, Marina Nekrasova, Maria Smirnova, Yekaterina Tishkova – rhythmic gymnastics; Murad Agharzayev, Teymur Bayramov and Bense Talas – artistic gymnastics among men.

After the Islamic Solidarity Games, our national team of rhythmic gymnastics will take part in the European Championship.