Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics is about to return to its glory days on the world stage. Such bright hopes are being inspired by the recent successes of Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts in 2014. Three titles for Bulgaria at the World Cup in Minsk (Belarus) were won in early June by the national female ensemble composed of Mihaela Maevska, Tsvetelina Naidenova, Hristiyana Todorova, Renetta Kamberova and Tsvetelina Stoyanova led by talented coach Ina Ananieva. One gold and two bronze medals - such was the score of Bulgarian athletes at the 30^th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Baku, three silver medals at the World Cup on home soil - in Sofia. Silver from the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, adorned the chest of the national youth ensemble composed of Elena Bineva, Aleksandra Mitrovic, Emilia Radicheva, Gabriela Stefanova and Sofia Rangelova with coach Kamelia Dunavska. Just a few days ago, the students of Ina Ananieva returned from a World Cup tournament in the Russian city of Kazan, where they enriched the Bulgarian collection with another two medals.

For their combination with balls and ribbons the Bulgarian girls received a score of 17.650 points and shared the gold with Belarus, and the combination with 10 clubs received a score of 17.550 and was awarded the bronze. These and other achievements of Bulgarian gracious girls made us seek for commentary Ina Ananieva - head coach of the Bulgarian national women’s group. What is her assessment of the performance of her girls in Kazan:

"My assessment is very good. I still cannot say excellent because we could not take the so-coveted gold from the AA. I think on the first day the girls played a little tentatively and fearfully, but on the second day they showed what they are capable of, and not accidentally beat Russia. And I'm happy because in a year this is the only team not to mention the teams of the former Soviet republics which managed to beat Russia twice. "

What has caused the upsurge in rhythmic gymnastics in this country which we have seen lately?

"I can say specifically for the ensemble. These girls have been training together for the 6^th year now. I think we are now seeing the results of their work from the previous Olympic cycle. This is a team that knows what and how to compete. They know how to endure stress physically and mentally. A team needs time to show what it is capable of, and I think that right now is their time. "

Forthcoming from 22 to 28 September is the World Championship in Izmir, Turkey. And what are the plans of the gymnasts further for next season? Here's more from Ina Ananieva:

"Yes, at the end of the month we have the World Cup. One can say that this is the most important competition for us this year. Then we change the apparatus and we will make new compositions. We will have a training camp in the sports facilities in Belmeken in Rila. Next year will also be very difficult, because then we are to have training for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Next year in June will be the first European Tournament in Baku (Azerbaijan). So we don’t have much time for rest. We will have a tough program also after the World Cup in Izmir."

English Rossitsa Petcova