Russian Olympic medalist in Athens in 2004 in gymnastics, Anna Pavlova, will advocate for Azerbaijan. European champions Konstantin Pluzhnikov and Russian championship medalist, Julia Inshina, also changed their citizenship from Russian into Azerbaijani, according to the official website of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG.)
The state coach of Russian combined team, Valentina Rodionenko told in her interview with Itar-Tass, that they do not worry about the leaving of these athletes. According to her , those whom Russia really needs, will not leave.
Twenty-six year old Pavlova is not considered a candidate for the Russian team . " Pavlova is now doing simple programs, and the team does not use her services, so she has the right to play for another country," said Rodionenko.
Commenting on the leaving of Inshina, the coach said that now the gymnast is in bad form, and therefore she will play for Azerbaijan. "As for Pluzhnikova, last year he refused to participate in the Olympics because of problems with his shoulder.
Before July 1 of this year, he was at our rate. Then Pluzhnikov wrote an application, and we excluded him. He is now free," said Rodionenko.
At the Athens Olympics Pavlova won medals in the team competition and vault. She also is winner of four silver awards the European championships.
Pluzhnikov won gold at the continental championship in 2011 in the exercises on the rings.
Inshina won a second place in the competition on the uneven bars at the Russian Championships in 2012. She has been included in the combined team for the Olympic Games in London as a spare.
To collect legionnaires all over the world is a favorite pastime of Azerbaijani Ministry of Sports.
With the paid athletes the authorities want to prove a real success in sports. -02D-
Social
-
"Next year, Azerbaijan will host another major sporting event—the CIS Games. The third CIS Games will take place in Azerbaijan," President Ilham Aliyev announced on December 24 during a ceremony dedicated to summarizing the sports achievements of 2024.
-
On December 28, rain is expected in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. The northeast windwill change to the northwest. The air temperature will be +5+8°C at night and +8+10°C during the day. Humidity will be 80-90%. In other parts of the country, precipitation is expected in some areas, with snow in the mountains. A moderate westerly wind will blow.
-
On December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), on a Baku–Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Aktau, Ayxan Suleymanlı, stated that the plane had 67 people onboard, including crew members, 38 of whom died. According to him, 26 of the deceased were Azerbaijani citizens.
-
On December 27th, rain is expected in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula, and heavy rainfall in some areas. The wind will be southeast. The air temperature at night will be +7 to +9°C, and during the day, it will be +9 to +11°C. Humidity will be 70-80%. Precipitation is expected across the country in the evening, particularly in the eastern regions. Snow is expected in the mountains.
Leave a review