FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics successfully ends in Baku
T
he FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics -- the grand sports event held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku -- drew the attention of millions of people around the world. Everybody, from ordinary fans to national teams' coaches and officials, stressed the high level of organization of the World Cup Final which took place here on August 22-24.
Speaking about the grant gymnastics event Vice-President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) Altay Hasanov said that Azerbaijan has long ago been at the forefront of sports countries.
“Sports events which are held in the country prove that. I believe that the day will come when we will hold World Championships in football, Olympic Games, as Azerbaijan is ready for this and deserves it,” said the AGF vice-president.
He pointed out that the guests visiting Baku, in particular, those coming to the city to watch the competitions in gymnastics, sincerely admire the country, the conditions created for sports and gymnastics in particular. The assessments made by guests during the interviews with local and foreign media fully coincide, which proves their sincerity.
The competitions in Baku revealed a number of beautiful performances by gymnasts from Russia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Spain, Italy, USA, Japan, Bulgaria and Kaza- khstan. As a result, Russian athletes achieved the greatest success gaining numerous gold, silver and bronze medals.
In general, twenty-six gymnasts competed for medals in the allaround on the first two days of the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics. On the last day of the event, apparatus finals were held.
During the competitions, Azerbaijan was represented by Marina Durunda and Zhala Piriyeva, as well as a team in group exercises - Siyana Vasileva, Ayshan Bayramova, Aleksandra Platonova, Diana Doman and Elif Zeynep Celep.
Marina Durunda managed to win a bronze medal in the competitions with ribbon. After the finals, head coach of Azerbaijani national team in rhythmic gymnastics Mariana Vasileva claimed she is satisfied with the performances of Azerbaijani athletes. "Marina Durunda made us happy," she said.
Majestic opening ceremony for the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics took place at the National Gymnastics Arena on July 22. Spectators watсhed a great show which contained numerous dancers continuously performing Azerbaijani national dances and welcoming everybody for The FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Baku.
Addressing the ceremony Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov stressed that Azerbaijan is currently known as a sports state and it became a tradition to hold various international sports competitions in the country.
Individual qualifications of gymnasts in the exercises with hoop and ball, as well as group qualifications in the exercises with five ribbons were held on the first day of the competitions.
The second day of the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics kicked off on July 23. On this day, individual qualifications with clubs and ribbon and group qualifications with three pairs of clubs and two hoops were held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku.
Russian gymnast Margarita Mamun won the gold medal in allround competitions. Another Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva became the second, while Alexandra Soldatova won the bronze medal.
On the same day, Russian group team won all-round competition at the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Israeli gymnasts won silver medal by ranking second, Italian gymnasts became third.
Following the competitions of the second day, ceremonies to award the winners of the all-around individual and group competitions were held at the National Gymnastics Arena.
Vice-president of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) Altay Hasanov, Vice-president of the Technical Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Noha Abou Shabana, FIG Secretary General André Gueisbuhler, international category rhythmic gymnastics judge Natalya Bulanova, Azerbaijani MP Fuad Muradov, FIG technical delegate Daniela Delle Chiaie and the National Gymnastics Arena’s Director Magsud Farzullayev attended the awarding ceremonies.
AGF’s special prize – the AGF Trophy – was also awarded for the best performance and the highest score. Moreover, FIG cups were awarded on four best results at nine stages of the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
The last and the main day of the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics was held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku on July 24. Individual apparatus finals with hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon, as well as groups’ apparatus finals with five ribbons, three pairs of clubs and two hoops were held on this day.
Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva won gold medal in the exercises with hoop. Another Russian gymnast Margarita Mamun ended up second, while French gymnast Ksenia Mustafayeva won bronze medal.
Margarita Mamun won gold medal also in the exercises with ball. Another Russian Aleksandra Soldatova grabbed the silver medal, while the Israeli gymnast Neta Rivkin won bronze.
Yana Kudryavtseva and Margarita Mamun shared the first place also in the exercises with clubs at the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Gymnast representing France, Ksenia Mustafayeva, took the bronze medal.
Margarita Mamun and Yana Kudryavtseva shared the first place also in another discipline -- the exercises with ribbon Azerbaijani Gymnast Marina Durunda took the bronze medal.
Israeli team won gold medal in group exercises with five ribbons at the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Baku. Russian gymnasts came in second, while Spanish gymnasts and grabbed the bronze medal.
Russian team won gold medal in group exercises with two hoops and three pairs of clubs at the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Gymnasts from Italy came in second, while Spanish athletes grabbed the bronze medal.
Ceremonies of awarding the day’s winners and medalists of the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics were held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku during July 24.
FIG Cup was also awarded for four best results in nine stages of the 2016 World Cup. Russian and Belarusian teams won the cup in group exercises with five ribbons, two hoops and three pairs of clubs.
Following the three days of competitions, a magnificent Gala Concert and closing ceremony of the FIG World Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics was held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku July 24.
The current and future stars of Azerbaijan’s rhythmic gymnastics, including Marina Durunda, Zhala Piriyeva and the country’s group team performed at the Concert.
The closing ceremony presented a fascinating show - story of the Little Prince from the famous Antoine de Saint-Exupery's novella, which decides to visit the Earth and found himself in Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire.
The ceremony, which was full of national flavor, was attended by athletes representing various types of gymnastics, at various ages ranging from seniors to juniors.