Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend /
A Bronze medal and 3 participation tickets to the 2008 China Olympic Games is the result of the successful Azerbaijani gymnasts in the world championship which was held in Patras, Greece.
Azerbaijan took the 3rd place after the Russian and Belarusian gymnasts , which is a historical achievement for Azerbaijan. Aliya Garayeva, Dinara Gimatova, Anna Gurbanova, and Zeynab Javadli performed very well and were applauded not only by Azerbaijani fans but also the fans from 49 participating countries.
Moreover, Azerbaijan won maximum licenses to the Olympic Games. For the first time Azerbaijan will be represented in the main competitions of the recent 4 years.
Azerbaijani gymnasts will perform in all gymnastic disciplines - there will be 2 gymnasts performing individually (Aliya Garayeva and Dinara Gimatova) and a group including Vafa Huseynova, Anna Bitiyeva, Valeriy Yegay, Alina Trepina, Anastasia Prasolova, and Anastasia Makarova.
Azerbaijani gymnasts received great support from the delegation of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation as well as the trainers and choreographers.
Ambassador Mirgamza Afandiyev and group of employees of Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece paid a visit to Patras to support Azerbaijani gymnasts.
The Ambassador mentioned that Azerbaijan won licenses to Beijing in the country which is the origin of the Olympic Games.
Azerbaijani MPs - Rauf Aliyev and Eyvaz Gurbanov, members of the Executive Committee of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, were the members of the Azerbaijani delegation.
" Azerbaijan added one more bronze medal to the bronze medal gained in Baku's European Championship. I have to note that Azerbaijani national team was performing very well, therefore it gained the 3rd place. That is a great success for our team and our country. The trainings and the assistance rendered to Azerbaijani gymnasts is the merit of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation's president, Mehriban Aliyeva.
Azerbaijani gymnastics achieved the high levels in such a short period as 5 years with the endless support of Mehriban Aliyeva.
Gymnastics is developing not only in Baku, but also the regions of the country, which gives a wider selection to the trainers and experts.
Azerbaijan Youth & Sports Ministry, National Olympic Committee, SOCAR, Neftchi sports and fitness centre were also involved in the preparations of the championship.
MP Rauf Aliyev said :The championship was very strained, and the Olympic Games are supposed to be twice difficult. Therefore, it is very important for the Azerbaijani team to have non-stop trainings and to participate in different tournaments in the remaining time.
Eyvaz Gurbanov agreed with Aliyev's opinion. He also mentioned that in the next 2 years Azerbaijan will the 3rd world prize-winner.
"I consider it a great success that our gymnastics is developing and constantly progressing. That is the contribution of the State paying great attention to sports. In Athens Azerbaijan was represented only by Anna Gurbanova, but in Beijing it will be 2 gymnasts - Aliya Garayeva and Dinara Gimatova. Moreover, a team also will be sent to the championship! Well done! At the same time I want to say licenses is not the last step. That is just a permission to participate in the Olympic Games. This world championship was very strained, difficult, and certainly unpredictable. It displayed a high level of rivalry. And it is not difficult to suppose rivalry in Beijing will be much higher. So, we have to get ready to success and to win medal," he said.