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Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships Underway In Baku, Russia Already Wins Gold Medals

By Vusala Abbasova May 19, 2019

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As the home team, Azerbaijan is represented by the gold medalist from the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, Zohra Agamirova; and Veronika Hudis in the individual program. A team consisting of Madina Asadova, Laman Alimuradova, Seljan Hajizade, Milana Akbarova, Farida Safiyarzade has been performing in group exercises. / Trend News Agency

The 35th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, an international tournament held every two years, wraps up today in Baku. Russian athletes already secured a gold medal on Saturday with 216.225 points.

The four-day event, which began on Thursday and is co-organized by the European Union of Gymnastics and Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, features nearly 200 athletes from 35 countries who are competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in rhythmic gymnastics.

Thursday came and went with a mesmerizing opening ceremony in the National Gymnastics Arena that included a performance of the national anthem by Azerbaijan’s honored artist Sevda Alakbarzade. The day continued with a theatrical gymnastic show entitled “Our Superheroes.”

“As always, the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation today showed the organization of the tournament at the highest level,” Slovak gymnast Ksenia Kilinanova told the reporter from Vestnik Kavkaza. “I did not expect such support, and it is very nice - I feel at home.”

Being an art and a sport, gymnastics includes two competition categories: individual and group competitions. As the home team, Azerbaijan is represented by the gold medalist from the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, Zohra Agamirova; and Veronika Hudis in the individual program. A team consisting of Madina Asadova, Laman Alimuradova, Seljan Hajizade, Milana Akbarova, Farida Safiyarzade has been performing in group exercises.

The Russian national team includes sisters Dina and Arina Averina from St. Petersburg, as well as the world ribbon champion Aleksandra Soldatova, who are this year’s favorites. In group exercises, Amina Khaldarova, Elizaveta Koteneva, Aleksandra Semibratova, Dana Semirenko, Alisa Tishchenko and Anna Batasova are performing.

On Saturday, Russia finished 10.225 points ahead of the nearest challenger, Belarus. Katsiaryna Halkina, Alina Harnasko and Anastasiia Salos took second place with 206.000 points. The bronze medal went to the Bulgarian trio of Boryana Kaleyn, Katrin Taseva and Neviana Vladinova, who scored 202.075.

Russia won another gold on Saturday when its junior team clinched the all-around honors with a tally of 44.925.

Rhythmic gymnastics requires that athletes compete on a special gymnastics floor that measures 13 x 13 meters (42.65’ x 42.65’) with performances choreographed to music. Group exercises usually consist of five people and one reserve gymnast who will participate in one of the two exercises.

The routine in rhythmic gymnastics includes five apparatuses, such as a hoop, a ball, clubs, a ribbon and a rope. According to the rules, senior gymnasts must perform with all these apparatuses except the rope, while juniors alternate among these apparatuses every two years.

For the first time in its history, Azerbaijan was chosen to host the joint European Championships in two gymnastics disciplines, namely Rhythmic and Aerobics Gymnastics. This is the fourth time Azerbaijan has held the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. Aerobic gymnastics athletes will compete in Baku from May 24-26.