29th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
Mie (JPN), September 7 – 13, 2009

Review Individual Apparatus Finals, Ball and Ribbon

MIE (JPN), FIG Office, September 10, 2009: In a full to bursting Sun Arena, excited fans witnessed the thrilling Ball and Ribbon Apparatus Finals of the 29th World Championships. A sizzling atmosphere reigned as qualified gymnasts gave their best and gutsiest performances.

Unbeatable Evgenia Kanaeva (RUS) won her third World Gold medal in Mie tonight on Ball. With perfection and incredible grace Kanaeva (28.575) upped her result from the preliminaries, besting her competition by 1.250 points. Azerbaijan’s Aliya Garayeva repeated her qualifying score of 27.325 points, which was good enough to win her the Silver. 4th place on Rope and Hoop in 2007 was Garayeva’s best standing result for a world championship event, which made it all the merrier when she whisked away her first world medal ever. Anna Bessonova (UKR) tied with Garayeva in the preliminaries, but with a lower score in the Final (27.250) she was forced to settle for yet another Bronze.

Bessonova edged out by a narrow margin Russia’s second entry to the Ball Final, Daria Dmitrieva (27.225), who qualified in second. Byelorussians Staniouta and Charkashyna placed 5th and 6th respectively, and Risenson (ISR) came 7th just ahead of Miteva (BUL).

Results Individual Apparatus Final – Ball

Gold: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – Total: 28.575
Silver: GARAYEVA Aliya (AZE) – Total: 27.325
Bronze: BESSONOVA Anna (UKR) – Total: 27.250
Detailed results

With a score of 28.000, Kanaeva added a Gold on Ribbon to her pristine medal collection. And a dramatic performance, flawlessly executed, brought Bessonova alarmingly close to Kanaeva’s score; 27.900 was enough for a Silver. Bulgarian Sylviya Miteva, with 25.750 in the Qualification round and seventh place, upgraded to 26.850 and placed third. The Bronze in Mie is Miteva’s first medal at a world championship, though she boasts a Bronze on Hoop from this year’s World Games.

Liubou Charkashyna (BLR) had barely qualified as the last entry to the Final, but she noticeably improved her score, finishing 4th. Kapranova, qualified as second, failed to hold her position and fell back into sixth behind Israel’s Risenson. Gurbanova (AZE) and Yussupova (KAZ) brought up the rear in seventh and eighth.

Results Individual Apparatus Final – Rope
Gold: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – Total: 28.000
Silver: BESSONOVA Anna (UKR) – Total: 27.900
Bronze: MITEVA Silviya (BUL) - Total: 26.850
Detailed results

Today’s pictures have been added to our online photo gallery!

The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Mie continue with tomorrow’s Individual All-around Final and Groups competitions this weekend.

Stay tuned at http://www.mie2009.sportcentric.com!