By Vera Atkinson FIG Editor.

Review Rhythmic Gymnastics - Day 2 of 2

INDIVIDUALS: Top 10 challengers defined

According to the ranking at the end of the second day of the Qualifications of the Rhythmic Gymnastics tournament , the above 10 gymnasts will challenge for the 2008 Individual Olympic title tomorrow, Saturday, 23 August.

Following the performances with clubs and ribbon no significant changes occurred in the list of the top ten competitors.

Kanaeva RUS, 2008 European Champion and winner in two World Cup events since the beginning of the year, took the  highest scores for routines, 18.700 clubs, and 18.825 ribbon and changed places with her teammate Kapranova RUS (drop of the ribbon).

The 2007 World Champion Bessonova showed her real self and took third position in the Qualifications just 0.075 behind Kapranova. 
These three gymnasts, along will Zhukova from Belarus, who had some problems with her clubs today, are tipped as the hottest challengers for a podium place.

The two Russians have an advantage with their high difficulty, but at the end of the day, fluent performances without dropping the apparatus will be the key- tool to win the title.

GROUPS: Top eight continue

1. Belarus 2. Russia 3. China 4. Italy 5. Bulgaria 6. Ukraine 7. Israel 8. Azerbaijan is the Groups who proceed to the Sunday's Final, after the execution of the second routine with 3 hoops and 2 pairs of clubs.

This was, unfortunately, a very bad day for the stylish Spaniards, who following a drop of a hoop, lost the smooth running of their composition. A score of 6.750 pts for their execution cost them a place in the Final (Spain were Olympic Champions in the Groups debut in Atlanta 1996).

The lucky ones for the day were Israel, who competed with a Group for the first time in the  Olympic Games. Sixth best score for the day and 'jumping' from 11th into the 7th place.

Two very exiting days of Finals ahead- are guaranteed. All the scoring in the Finals begins from zero.