The 24th Open Azerbaijan Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship opened at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku today, the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation said on its website.
Twenty-five gymnasts in the junior and senior age categories will vie for medals in performances with hoop, ball, ribbon and clubs.
Along with representatives of local Ojag Sport Club, Baku Gymnastics School, Start and Zirva sports clubs, as well as Ganja, Gusar and Kurdamir, athletes from abroad will demonstrate their interesting performances.
Contests, entertaining flash mob and other events will be organized during the Championship.
The head coach of the Azerbaijani national rhythmic gymnastics team Mariana Vasileva, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that a record number of regions of the republic is participating in the tournament this year. "In general, we have started to train intensively for the next season, in which Zohra Agamirova and Aishan Bayramova will represent Azerbaijan at the World Cup," she said.
Mariana Vasileva drew attention to the fact that a number of gymnasts became seniors this year. "There are no new names in the senior program - these are the same girls who were juniors last year: Elizaveta Luzan, Daria Farshbafshakhriyari, Narmina Samedova and Arzu Jalilova. First of all, a good performance at the World Cups is more important for our country and the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, because the younger generation has the opportunity to see famous athletes and learn from them," the head coach stressed.
Since the championship is open, it is attended by gymnasts from other countries. "In particular, the New Zealand national team is taking part in the tournament, it is judged by the New Zealand judges of the international category. They told me that they liked the level of the organization of the competitions and they intend to borrow a number of ideas from us. In the last week there were the Australian national team and the US team. Next week there will be a Turkish junior team, as well as the Egyptian national team," Mariana Vasileva said.
The head coach of the Azerbaijani national rhythmic gymnastics team also noted the increasing level of skills of the Zira gymnasts. "At the June 1 tournament, the club from Zira won one of the age categories for the first time," she concluded.
