Baku, Azerbaijan, June 17
By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend:
Azerbaijani female athletes hope to improve their results during the next competitions in women's 25m pistol shooting, which will be held June 19-20 as part of the first European Games.
Qualification round of the competitions in women's 10m pistol shooting was not very successful for our athletes, Azerbaijani participant of competitions in shooting Irada Ashumova told Trend June 17.
"The results were somewhat lower (than expected)," she said. "I wouldn't like to say in advance how I will perform here and that I will show good results, as Baku Shooting Centre has opened not so long ago."
She said that the athletes will fire 30 shots at a stationary target June 19 within the framework of the qualification round of the competitions, while rapid fire competitions will be held on June 20.
"In order to show good results in the rapid fire competitions, one has to train a lot, because shooting at a target in the allotted three seconds is not simple," Ashumova said. "In general, of course, I am very pleased and proud to have been involved in the European Games."
Another participant of the qualification round in women's 10m pistol shooting, Narmina Samadova, who is representing the Azerbaijani team, told Trend that she is proud to be participating for the first time at such a large-scale event as the first European Games.
"My results [during the qualification round from the distance of 10 meters] did not meet my expectations, since my rivals were very strong, many of them being Olympic champions and world champions," said Samadova. "Despite this, I am filled with joy, because my compatriots and of course, my family and friends, were supporting me at the competitions. Their presence is surely additional responsibility for me."
The European Games that kicked off in Baku June 12, will last till June 28.
There is a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports.
More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.
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