An evening of grace
Female gymnasts in Gezira made one Ramadan night truly memorable, says Inas Mazhar
On one delightful Ramadan evening, Gezira hosted its second rhythmic gymnastics championship with the participation of more than 60 athletes representing clubs Zohour, Sporting and Maadi as well as Gezira.
In front of a high spectator turnout, the girls entertained the audience with a first class performance, displaying their routines to the beat of a mix of Oriental and Western music.
Six events were on show in the competition which began following the iftar with the under-eight starting first before moving on to the seniors. As the events moved from the younger to the older age groups, so too did the event grow in interest and excitement.
In a unique sweep, hosts Gezira collected first place in all the events.
In the under-eight event, Eisha Hani of Gezira claimed first place in the free routine followed by teammate Habiba El- Mawourdi and Sporting's Farida Tarek.
The tournament may have discovered a new talent, seven-year-old Salma El- Sawi who was making her debut in rhythmic gymnastics. El-Sawi had been impressive in artistic gymnastics but then found rhythmic more to her liking and more feminine and so quit the artistic for the rhythmic.
"This is her first time," El-Sawi's mother Hannan Zidan said. "She likes it a lot. Seventh place is a good start. She has a lot of confidence and I hope she'll improve in the future, especially at the nationals in February."
Gezira's Farida Sherif, Sporting's Rana Azmi and Jastine Tarek claimed the first three places in the ball event.
Playing for the first time for Gezira, Heba Khaled El-Bourini dominated the under-10 event, the rope discipline. El- Bourini, Egypt's national champion, formerly played with Shooting club. "We left the club because I felt the atmosphere wasn't healthy for Heba," said mother Bossaina. "Heba was being treated unfairly at her former club. I felt she wouldn't improve under such conditions and in such an atmosphere of hatred and envy, specially from her teammates and their parents.
"It's not her fault that she's talented and represents Egypt in international events," Bossaina said, "thus creating a clear difference in performance between herself and her teammates." She added that Gezira welcomed Heba with open arms and for the past month her daughter had been in high spirits.
With almost one point ahead of her opponents, El-Bourini took first place for Gezira, followed by Maadi's Merna Sami and Salma Mohamed Ali. In the ball discipline, Gailan Ali of Gezira finished first, followed by Sporting's Lina Maged and Nada Khaled.
With the support of Alexandria supporters, Sporting club prevented a Gezira clean sweep, dominating the under-11 and 12 events. Logina Magdi was first in the ball followed by Gezira's Safia Hisham and Farida Ahmed. Sporting's Asmaa Nader came first in the ribbon and Gezira's Aliaa Mohamed second. In the under-12, Riham Maged and Nora Hazem won first and second place in the rope event followed by Gezira's Mona Alaeeddin in third. In the under-12 clubs discipline, Sporting's Germine Montasser was first and teammate Mahinour Tarek came third. Second place went to Mariam El-Raai of Gezira.
In the under-15 ball event, first place went to Paula Nikolova, daughter of Gezira club's gymnast head coach, followed by Maha Nader of Maadi club. In the ribbons, Salma Nader was the only contestant and thus claimed the title.
Gezira's Sarah Ghoneim concluded the achievements of the hosting club winning the first place at the over-15 event. Maadi's Noha Nagi was second.
Gezira marked the occasion by honouring retired players African champion Yasmine Youssef, Sandra George, Salma El-Reidi and Iman Hossam for their achievements. "These talented players have achieved great things for the club and deserve to be honoured. We appreciate their efforts and wish them the best of luck in their future career whether in this field or elsewhere," said Asser Sherif, head of the gymnastics committee in Gezira club.
Youssef took part in the championship as a referee for the first time after attending a refereeing training centre after which she received a license to officiate.
Sherif said the event was successful organisationally and technically. He added the reason Gezira outclassed its opponents was because of its Bulgarian head coach Paulina Nikolova who has been with the club for almost eight years. "Paulina is responsible for all age groups, juniors and seniors. She's a former national and world champion, has trained the girls so much and has added tremendously to their personalities, potential and abilities. For the past decade the club has been a winner."
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 20 - 26 November 2003 (Issue No. 665)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/665/sp2.htm