Hall of Famer Ryskal inspires Azerbaijan's new generation
06/01/2006
Tokyo, May 31, 2006 -- Women's volleyball in Azerbaijan has a glorious past. Now it's time for the future.
The national team faces a busy year, with World Grand Prix stops in Hong Kong, Taipei and Ningbo, China, to help prepare for the World Championships in Japan.
In Pool B, based in Sapporo, Azerbaijan will play the 2004 Olympic champions China, Athens silver medallists Russia, plus Germany, Dominican Republic and Mexico in the battle for a top-four finish and a place in the last 16.
To help them on their way, the Azerbaijan players can gain inspiration from the past achievements of two Olympic golden girls: the legendary Inna Ryskal and Vera Lantratova.
Hall of Famer Ryskal played in four consecutive Olympic Games for the former Soviet Union, winning gold medals in 1968 and 1972 and silvers in 1964 and 1976, and Lantratova had a gold in 1968. They were both students of the talented Azerbaijanian coach, Shamil Shamkhalov.
Current head coach Faig Garayev says: "The first thing we must do is to show our best playing skills.
"Azerbaijan has its old volleyball traditions. Inna Ryskal, the best volleyball player of the 20th Century, twice an Olympic champion, was brought up by Azerbaijan volleyball, as was the other Olympic champion, Vera Lantratova.
"In 1994, at the World Championships in Brazil, we managed to be among the first 10 teams. Now we hope to be more successful in 2006 and join the best eight teams. I can rely on my players, who are definitely strong enough to achieve big goals."
These players include veteran captain Alla Hasanova, Yelena Shabovta, Natalya Mammadova and libero Valeriya Korotenko.
Zohrab Gozalbayli, Press Officer of the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation, believes the team can make an impact in Japan this year.
"We have played against all the teams before, with the exception of Mexico, and from the results can conclude that we have chances to win," he said.
"However, we consider the teams in our pool to be rather difficult. China and Russia are among the strongest in the world, very experienced and with lots of titles; Germany is traditionally an uncomfortable rival for any team; the Dominican Republic is also one of the most progressive teams in the world. As for Mexico, unfortunately we have never played against this team."
Whatever happens in Japan, the performances of the Azerbaijan team will be followed closely back home in Baku and beyond.
"Women's volleyball is undoubtedly the No. 1 sport in our country, and the national team players are the idols of the Azerbaijan people," adds Gozalbayli. "The competitions are often broadcast live by two TV channels, and the President and government members also visit the matches.
"The head coach, Mr. Faig Garayev, has been invested with an order of merit, and Alla Hasanova has received a medal for her services to volleyball."
While the past is golden and the present is exciting, the future also looks bright, as Gozalbayli explains: "Volleyball is very popular among children. There are numerous sports schools and children's teams in the professional volleyball clubs."
Olympic queen Ryskal has clearly left a strong legacy in Azerbaijan.
The list of members for 2006, with their year of birth, is: 1. Irina Siminyagina (1984), 2. Oksana Mammadyarova (1978), 3. Oksana Guliyeva (1984), 4. Yelena Parhkomenko (1982), 5. Valeriya Korotenko (1984), 6. Natalya Mammadova (1984), 7. Kseniya Kovalenko (1986), 8. Yelena Shabovta (1969), 9. Natavan Gasimova (1985), 10. Alla Hasanova (1970), 11. Inessa Korkmaz (1972), 12. Lada Maksimova (1987), 13. Darya Zamanova (1987), 14. Sabina Yarmammadova (1988), 15. Nigyar Bashirova (1990).
