DURUNDA QUALIFIES FOR FIRST TIME

The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart ended with an Azerbaijani qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. The team's leader, Marina Durunda, justified the hopes placed in her. The winner of the first European Games, she performed difficult routines at the World Championships without any losses.

Gymnasts Zeynep Celep and Aysan Bayramova, who were taking part in such a representative tournament for the first time, were also in the Azerbaijani team. Following their team leader's example, Aysan and Zeynep also gave a solid performance. Azerbaijan finished in the top five in the team category.

After the qualifying rounds Marina reached all four finals, earning the right to compete with the best. She secured sixth place in the final with the hoop, clubs and ribbons, and was seventh in the ball exercises. In the all-round final based on four exercises Marina Durunda came sixth and qualified for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This was the first Olympic qualification for Durunda who began performing in the senior programme internationally in 2013. In three years she has shown remarkable consistency, winning several tournaments and titles at the European Championships and the first European Games. But qualification for the Olympics in Rio opens up a whole new world for Marina.

A silver medallist at the European Games and a bronze medallist at the European Championships, Durunda proved how she has advanced professionally at the World Championships. Her routines, both during qualification and in the finals, exuded confidence, grace, lightness of movement and flawless poise.

The Azerbaijani team also performed in the group exercises at the World Championships. At first, Sabina Abbasova, Siyana Vasilyeva, Aynur Mustafayeva, Diana Doman and Aleksandra Platonova successfully demonstrated their rousing routine with three pairs of clubs and two hoops. But a mistake in the exercise with five ribbons spoilt their chances of Rio qualification in the total of two exercises.

But they will have another opportunity to book their ticket to Brazil. Because of their performance in the all-round event at the World Championships the group exercises team earned the right to take part in the test event in Rio on 16-24 April 2016 which will in effect be a qualifying competition. Eight teams - Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Germany, Greece, Finland, Brazil, France and one other team to be decided later - will battle it out for these qualifying places.

The girls will also remember these World Championships for the surprise they had in the centre of Stuttgart when they were strolling around before returning home. After a telephone call informing them that the Spanish team had withdrawn from the final with three pairs of clubs and two hoops because of an injury sustained by one of their gymnasts, they, as first reserve, took a taxi and dashed to the Porsche Arena.

Showing real sporting spirit, our gymnasts got out of the taxi and literally dashed to the floor straightaway. Their performance, which was the eighth finalist, was the last routine at the World Championships. It was this that allowed the team to think about taking part in the final qualifying tournament before the Olympics.

After qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in her career, Marina Durunda shared her thoughts with R+: "This is the third World Championships of my career. I would like to thank everyone who supported me, but a special thanks to the Azerbaijani Gymnastics Federation and also all the coaches, doctors and, of course, chief coach Mariana Vasilyeva. I'm glad I was able to justify expectations. Our fans were with us all the way in Stuttgart and their support helped us a great deal. One of my goals was to take part in the Olympics, the biggest event in the world, and I achieved it. I shall now concentrate on preparing for the Olympics to honourably present Azerbaijan in Rio.

It should be pointed out it is much more difficult to qualify for the Olympics in Rhythmic Gymnastics than in other events and therefore Durunda's success is most worthy. The national team in general under Vasilyeva's guidance has grown stronger in recent years. Whereas in the past the team set off for international tournaments just to take part, now they are firmly among the medal contenders. And Durunda's qualification may not be the last - there are further qualifying tournaments to come where Azerbaijani gymnasts will be able to book their tickets to Rio.