TWO MEDALS FROM THE WORLD CUP

The first major international competition held in Azerbaijan in 2024 was the World Trampoline Gymnastics and Tumbling Championship. Our athletes secured two medals at the tournament, earning them license points for the Paris Olympics.

Gold and Silver

Two-time European and world champion Mikhail Malkin clinched the first medal for the national team. Once again, he showcased his strength and brought joy to gymnastics fans by winning the gold. Following him was another seasoned athlete, the winner of the World Team Championships, Adil Hajizadeh, who secured a silver medal for his team with 29.400 points. Other members of the national tumbling team, Tofig Aliyev (55.800) and Bilal Gurbanov (52.000), claimed the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in the rankings. However, they did not advance to the final stage as only two athletes from each country could progress to the decisive round of the competition.

Seljan Maqsudova, a key medallist of the Azerbaijani team who had previously won silver and bronze medals at the last two World Championships, unfortunately missed out on qualifying for the final due to a mistake during her performance. As a result, she finished in 24th place. Additionally, our synchronized swimming pair, Huseyn Abbasov and Nijat Mirzayev, making their debut at the World Championships, concluded the event in 19th place.

The AGF TROPHY Cup was presented to gymnasts who excelled in the individual trampoline gymnastics and tumbling programs, as well as to those achieving top scores in synchronized trampoline for the first time. Hence, the outcomes of the inaugural World Championships, with 300 athletes from 32 countries participating, can be deemed successful.

Risky Trick

World Cup victor Mikhail Malkin shared his impressions in his interview with Region Plus: "In the initial final, I aimed to execute a challenging combination; however, I had some difficulties. Nonetheless, I managed to secure a spot in the top four and compete for victory. I wanted to perform the elements that brought me victory at the world championship. This intricate combination requires thorough practice. I had not practised these elements for over two months. Therefore, head coach Adil Huseynov initially advised against it. Yet, upon my proposal to take a risk, he pondered for a moment and said, 'Well, Misha, go for it!'

"I understood the complexity of this combination but decided to proceed nonetheless. Unlike a practice session where you can reconsider and opt out of performing something, there is no room for such changes in a competitive setting."

According to Malkin, the two tumbling medals serve as evidence of the active development of this discipline in the country: "Even during the classification phase, we had anticipated such results. Our objective was to claim gold and silver. Presently, we are targeting gold in the team event at the European Championships in Portugal. Concurrently, we will strive for top performances in individual competitions as well.

Adil Hajizade, the silver medallist, highlighted that this marked his first time as a medallist in adult competitions: "This represents my inaugural medal among adults—a moment of immense pride for me. Initially, my focus was on delivering a flawless program and garnering substantial points. However, observing my competitors' performances prompted me to alter my plans. I incorporated more challenging elements into my routine, which I executed successfully."

The athlete believes that triumphs at the World Cup will be beneficial for future competitions: "I felt tremendous support from the fans; all I needed to do was perform at my best. Securing the silver medal at the world championship bolsters my confidence. I am delighted with my performance in the year's inaugural tournament, providing extra motivation for upcoming events."

Successes and Failures

On March 7-10, spectators in Baku were treated to captivating performances by world gymnastics stars at the World Cup. The competition was intense, with representatives from 67 countries participating. Azerbaijan fielded six athletes at the cup. Seasoned national team member Nikita Simonov, who previously secured a gold medal at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany, faced disappointment as he finished the qualification stage in 9th place following the rings exercises. Young Azerbaijani team member Nazenin Teymurova, competing in the adult category since last year, claimed the 13th spot in vaulting. Ivan Tikhonov secured the 17th position on the parallel bars.

In the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan's Ivan Tikhonov clinched the AGF Trophy in the men's event, while China's Siu Du received the prize in the women's event.

The Best of the Best

European Gymnastics has revealed the standout athletes for 2023, including Mikhail Malkin, a two-time world champion in tumbling and the leader of the Azerbaijani men's national team. Adil Huseynzade, the head coach of the national tumbling team, was honoured as the best coach.