Spectators helped the Azerbaijani gymnasts to perform brilliantly at the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku. They came to support their compatriots at the international tournament, the head coach of the Azerbaijani national rhythmic gymnastics team, Mariana Vasileva, said today in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, speaking about the competitions, at which the Azerbaijani gymnasts took four gold medals out of five possible.
”Fans in the hall were waiting for our victories most of all. I was very happy to see so many people in the National Gymnastics arena, and it's a great happiness for me that all these people came to see our gymnasts and support us. Through their presence, they showed love and faith in what we are doing, in our successes. So we had no right to let them down, " the head coach of the national team stressed.
She also thanked the audience for understanding rhythmic gymnastics. "They supported all gymnasts. They understood, when someone was making a good element, or was doing the right move, or making a mistake - and at the same time they were supporting everyone, and I am grateful for this. I wait for them again at the next competitions. We are very pleased to perform in front of the full hall," Mariana Vasileva confessed.
The European Championship awaits for the Azerbaijani gymnasts. "Today, at the end of the competition, our junior group performed, and we hope that they will be able to perform three times without mistakes at the championship and stand on the podium. They are very young and promising, twice performed at the World Cups - in Bulgaria and Italy - and both times returned with the bronze medals. I hope that Marina Durunda will be able to reach the finals, because this is very important after the injury she received. Jala Piriyeva and Zohra Agamirova will fly with full strength and hope to get into the best 20. The main thing for Azerbaijan to receive two quotas for the next European Championship, " she told.
Mariana Vasileva also spoke about difficulties in the work of the coach. "The most difficult thing is to cope with the characters of gymnasts. There are those, who work without fail, but before the competition they begin to doubt in everything, and there are those, who work very little, because they are confident in their abilities. Everyone needs a separate approach, it is necessary to find the right method to achieve a result. I think there is not a single coach in the world, who does not care about the results of his athletes, because this is a face of a coach, " the head coach of Azerbaijan team in rhythmic gymnastics drew attention.
The 4th Islamic solidarity Games are held in Baku on May 8-22. Athletes will compete at 16 sports facilities in 17 Olympic and three non-Olympic types of sports. Rhythmic and sports gymnastics competitions were included in the program of the Islamic Solidarity Games for the first time on the initiative of the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, President of the Federation of Gymnastics of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva.
