Russian gymnasts will perform in Azerbaijan

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-