Baku, Azerbaijan, April 26
By Vahid Bayramov, Azad Hasanli – Trend:
The captain of the Azerbaijani national team in rhythmic gymnastics group exercises Siyana Vasileva hopes for a speedy recovery from her recent injury, Trend reports.
“It happened during a training session. We were under heavy strains due to preparing for the World Cup and other competitions, including the licensing championship which will be held in Baku. I am the team captain and perform one of the most difficult elements. As a result, I had an injury during training due of the strains. Now I am undergoing treatment. Doctors do everything possible to put me on my feet. I hope for a speedy recovery,” said Vasileva.
According to Vasileva, she was very upset that she would not be able to perform at the World Cup in Baku.
"This is one of my most favorite competitions, when our audience supports us and roots for us. I have always wanted to perform with good results in this competition," she said.
Vasileva sustained a spinal injury during a workout. As a result, the national team of Azerbaijan in the rhythmic gymnastics group exercises withdrew from the World Cup. Considering the circumstances, the second squad of the group team was announced for participation at the World Cup.
The FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup has kicked off on April 26 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku.
On the first day of the competitions, qualifications will be held in an individual program with a hoop and a ball, as well as qualifications of teams in group exercises with five balls.
The FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup will last until April 28, 2019.
More than 200 gymnasts from 39 countries are expected to compete at the World Cup. During the event, 25 teams will compete in group exercises and more than 70 gymnasts will perform in individual programs.
Azerbaijan will be represented by Zohra Aghamirova and Veronika Hudis in the individual program, while Ayna Jafarova, Simara Jafarova, Gullyu Agalarzade, Narin Gurbanova, Narmin Jahangirova and Sona Rakhmanova will participate in the group exercises.
Individual Qualifications will be held on April 26 as follows: All-Around: Group A - Hoop, Ball; All-Around: Group B - Hoop, Ball; All-Around: Group C - Hoop, Ball and Groups’ Qualifications All-Around - five Balls.
Individual Qualifications will be held on April 27 as follows: All-Around: Group A – Clubs, Ribbon; All-Around: Group B - Clubs, Ribbon; All-Around: Group C - Clubs, Ribbon and Groups’ Qualifications All-Around - three Hoops and two pairs of Clubs.
The winners in all-round competitions will be named after the Individual Apparatus Finals (hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) and Groups’ Apparatus Finals (five balls, three hoops and two pairs of clubs) and awarded on April 28.
The gymnast and the team in the group exercises with the highest score for the performance will be traditionally awarded with the AGF Trophy Cup.