An Azerbaijani junior group team has taken the 3rd place at the “Saint-Petersburg’s Pearls” international competitions held in Russia within the framework of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup.

According to the press service of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, the collective consisting of Irada Ahadzada, Madina Hasanova, Mansura Mehdiyeva and Aliya Pashayeva lost only to the Russian and Belarusian teams in total of two exercises.

“The gymnasts became the third both for their performances with 4 hoops under the composition “Blue rime” and with 4 ribbons under the composition “Carnival”, and, as a result, they won the bronze medal in the all-around,” the head coach of the country’s national team Mariana Vasileva noted. The team will perform with the same compositions at the European Championships starting in Bremen in 10 days. I hope their performance will not be worse there. And for the present, all prospective participants of Euro-2010, individual gymnasts, as well as the gymnasts of group teams, will train at the capital’s Olympic Sports Complex right up till the April 13 – the team’s departure date for Germany.

Anna Gurbanova performed at the World Cup series and reached all four finals having won the 7th place. Her best result in the final tournament was also the 7th place with a ribbon. The first places were taken by the floor’s hostesses headed by an Olympic Champion Yevgeniya Kanayeva.