DESPITE WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

The 31st European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Minsk will be remembered for the outstanding performance of the Azerbaijani athletes. Their choice of routine and music and polished movements proved that Azerbaijan's women gymnasts were well prepared to compete for the medals at this prestigious tournament.

The junior team gave a fine display in the group exercises to the music of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" and their performance was well received by the spectators. Their skilled interpretation of Jackson's famous movements was worthy of the highest appraisal. The routine with five balls performed by Ilaha Mammadova, Zuleyxa Ismayilova, Darya Sorokina, Simara Cafarova and Fatima Cafarova proved that the coach's choice was the correct one. Unfortunately, the judges did not share the views of the spectators and we ended the championship in fourth place.

As far as individual performances are concerned, Azerbaijan was represented at the European Championships by Aisan Bayramova, along with the team leader, Marina Durunda. The young and promising Aisan was given the opportunity to appear at the biggest competition of her career when Gulsum Safizada was injured in the last training session. The young gymnast justified the hopes of the coaches. After coming 16th in the final table, she was given the opportunity to take part in the next continental championship.

The performance of the leader of the Azerbaijani team, Marina Durunda, is worth looking at separately. Marina is always working on her routine and is happy to carry out all the tasks set by the coaches. That is why all our hopes rested with her at the championships. Marina charmed everyone with her composition and reached the final in the club and ribbon exercises. By winning a bronze in the ribbon exercises, she showed she was fully capable of creating an impression in the European arena. Strangely, the judges underscored her performance in this exercise, placing her in fourth position. However, after a protest by the Azerbaijani delegation and a replay of the routine, Durunda eventually received the high marks she deserved. So, for the first time in her career she was awarded a bronze medal for the ribbon exercise.

The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship will also be remembered for the biased approach of the judges. It was not by chance that Mariana Vasilyeva, Azerbaijan's chief coach, had to protest three times at the judges' decisions during the tournament. Only the third one was upheld and as a result Marina Durunda was awarded a bronze.

The successful performance by the gymnasts was the result of the correct selection by the coaching team. For seven years in a row, starting from 2009, the principle of honest work has enabled our gymnasts to win medals at the European championships.

The European Union of Gymnastics agrees that the judges made biased decisions and this was acknowledged in an interview given to R+ by the organization's head, Georges Gelzek. "The Azerbaijanis' protest is testimony to the democracy in the family of gymnasts. The protest was upheld and your gymnast's points were altered. When I watched the replay I could see the judges' decision was wrong, so I asked them to change it. You know, judges are only human. Everyone makes mistakes. In the future we intend to make certain changes to the judges' duties. I would like the judges for competitions to be appointed not by our technical committee, but by the vice presidents of the European Union of Gymnastics."

The bronze medallist at the championships, Marina Durunda, spoke to R+ about her performance. Our team leader said that after this success she will be preparing for the European Games with even greater determination: "I was very pleased to win a medal at the continental championships. This was the first time in my career that I have won a bronze at the European championships. Our team in general performed well. I was very impressed by Aisan Bayramova, even though this was her first appearance at this level. And our team charmed everyone in the true sense of the word. I was confident that I would do well in the ribbon and club exercises. I love doing the ribbon, in which I took the bronze. We used two Azerbaijani tunes at the European Championships. Thanks to Mariana Vasilyeva and the coaching team we had a perfect routine. It is always pleasing when you reap the rewards of hard training. The bronze medal will give us additional strength in our training. The first European Games lie ahead. I'm proud they are being held in Baku. It will be a huge pleasure to perform in front of our fans. All my thoughts are now centred on the Games. I dream of adding my name to the list of winners at these championships. There will be tough competition ahead, because the top gymnasts will be coming to Baku. I believe our girls will justify our hopes."

Azerbaijan's chief coach, Mariana Vasilyeva, was pleased with her girls' performance: Let's begin with the juniors in the group exercise. At the European Championships they performed a routine to a famous song by Michael Jackson. The girls charmed everyone in the true sense of the word. However, they didn't get the marks they deserved and, as a result, finished in fourth place, although they fully deserved medals and it was not their fault that they missed out. But, as always, we will steer our own course. Our team will grow in strength and will perform even better. I would like to express my thanks to the members of the team - Ilaha Mammadova, Zuleyxa Ismayilova, Darya Sorokina, Simara Cafarova and Fatima Cafarova - for their fine show. The Federation created all the conditions we needed. So we were prepared to battle for the top places. Although we planned in the beginning for Gulsum Safizada to perform, we were then forced to replace her with Aisan Bayramova. She justified our faith in her. She carried out difficult exercises immaculately and flawlessly and took 16th place. This result will enable her to take part in the European Championships next year, because according to the new rules gymnasts who finish among the first 20 qualify for the next championships. Aisan has great potential. Our team leader, Marina Durunda, proved she is one of the best in Europe. Her ribbon exercise to Azerbaijani music charmed everyone. For the first time in her career Marina was awarded a European Championship medal in individual competition. Durunda's success pleased all of us. We expect even more fine victories from her."

Vasilyeva also explained that she protested at the judges' decisions three times at the championships. "When our gymnasts don't get the marks they deserve this affects us, too. We shall continue to fight. If we are strong we should get the proper marks. That's why I was forced to make three protests at Minsk. The third one concerned Marina Durunda's performance. This time the judges realized we were right and changed Marina's score. So we won the bronze medal. Azerbaijan's gymnasts are getting better with each competition. There is no doubt that other countries also see us as serious rivals. And if we are strong, we should get the awards we deserve."

The Secretary General of the Azerbaijani Gymnastics Federation and Vice President of the European Union of Gymnastics, Farid Qaibov, also expressed his satisfaction with the team's results at the European Championships: "Starting from 2009, Azerbaijan's gymnasts have consistently won medals at all the European championships. Our current success is our seventh in a row. Of course, gymnastics has its traditional favourite countries. Azerbaijan is capable of holding its own in both the group and individual exercises. The performance of the routine in Minsk showed that gymnastics is making progress in Azerbaijan. We are on the right path and we shall continue to follow it."

Qaibov said the underscoring by the judges left the junior team outside the medals in the group exercises. "Our girls did brilliantly. Their difficult routine deserved all the applause but the points awarded by the judges prevented them reaching the podium. We are delighted with their performance. This team is one of the best on the continent."

Farid Qaibov went on to say that the judges' mistakes will be reviewed by the European Union of Gymnastics. "According to tradition, European championships in both rhythmic and artistic gymnastics will be analysed by the EUG. The judging will also be looked at. Anyway, I shall propose that this matter be discussed. Marking like this cannot go on."

The secretary general of the AGF said that most of the female athletes who will be representing Azerbaijan at the first European Games are already known. "In the group exercises our team will consists of six gymnasts. If there are no problems, there will be no changes to the team. Marina Durunda will continue to lead the team. So I can say with confidence that she will be taking part in the European Games. The name of the second gymnast will be clarified at the end of the month. Aisan Bayramova did well at the European Champi-onships. We also have Gulsum Safizada. The final decision will be made by chief coach Mariana Vasilyeva."