Baku, Azerbaijan, April 12
By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:
Performing in one’s home country is always big responsibility, Azerbaijani gymnast Mikhail Malkin told Trend April 12 after qualification event in tumbling competitions.
“Overall, I liked how I performed in the qualification, there was no special excitement,” Malkin said. “Now I will try to win gold medal.”
As his main rivals, the gymnast named athletes from Russia, Denmark and the UK.
“Because this is the European Championships, the competition here is much higher,” Malkin said. “Of course, it’s very difficult to perform in a home country, it is big responsibility, everyone wants me to perform well, and I don’t want to let anyone down. At the same time, I feel the support of the fans, especially friends.”
The European Championships in Trampoline, Double Mini-Trampoline and Tumbling has today kicked off in Baku.
The first day of the competition will see qualifications for all types of the events both among junior and seniors.
In addition, at the end of the day the final competitions will be held for synchronized trampoline among boys and girls, in the age category of juniors.
On the first day of the competition, Azerbaijan is represented by Seljan Magsudova, Riyad Abbasov and Mikhail Malkin.
Meanwhile, 420 gymnasts from 25 countries are expected to join the Championships. Both junior and senior competitions will be held in Individual and Synchronized Trampoline, Double Mini-Trampoline and Tumbling at the National Gymnastics Arena.
In accordance with the format of the European and World Championships, according to which the competition in the individual event consists of two qualifying rounds, within the championship in the individual event semi-finals will be held before the finals among 24 gymnasts showing the best result in the first round.
The European Championships are remarkable for the fact that in Baku juniors will be able to win licenses for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, and senior gymnasts - for the 2019 European Games.