FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup A
Debrecen (HUN), March 6 – 7, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 2, 2010: A line-up of 28 individual rhythmic gymnasts and 9 groups from 17 different countries are expected at the 2nd FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Debrecen (HUN), March 6 – 7, 2010. After the season’s opening in Montreal end of January, this event marks the second competition in a total of eight FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup competitions this year.

International Gymnastics competitions in Hungary

The Hungarian Gymnastics Federation has a long-standing tradition in Rhythmic Gymnastics; the country had the honour of hosting the sport’s very first World Championships in Budapest in 1963. The capital also welcomed the international rhythmic elite in 1996 and 2003 for the 20th and 26th World Championships and hosted a first World Cup in 2009. Located 220 km east of Budapest, Debrecen is the country’s second largest city and boasts the spectacular Debreceni Fönix Csarnok sports hall, venue for the 36th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2002. Having organised four European Championships (1 RG and 3 AER) over the past 10 years, the Hungarian Organising Committee impresses with exceptional operating experience, and plans to make this FIG World Cup stopover an annual event.

Line-up in Debrecen

The Hungarian delegation is led by the country’s top individual rhythmic gymnast, 18 year old Dora Vass, who qualified for the Individual All-around Final at last year’s worlds in Mie (JPN). Vass, who is hoping to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, will face strong competition in Debrecen. Key players in the Individual category include Evgenia Kanaeva, Daria Kondakova, Daria Dmitrieva, Yana Lukonina (all RUS), Aliya Garaeyeva and Anna Gurbanova from Azerbaijan, Belarusian Melitina Staniouta and Sliviya Miteva (BUL).
In the absence of Italy, the traditionally strong Russian and Belarusian groups are expected to make it to the podium, with a definite fighting chance for Azerbaijan and Israel.

Check out the complete World Cup roster for Debrecen!
Individuals
Groups

2009 Title holders:

Rope: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – 27.400
Hoop: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – 27.725
Ball: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – 27.950
Ribbon: SESINA Vera (RUS) – 28.200
Group 5x: Belarus
Group 3x + 2x: Bulgaria

As a FIG category A World Cup and with more prize money and World Ranking points available than at category B tournaments, the competition is especially attractive for participating gymnasts. In addition, the competition will be televised by host broadcaster Magyar Televízió.

Further information on the tournament can be found online at http://www.rgszovetseg.hu/.

The next Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup circuit stopovers are set for Portimao (POR) on March 11 – 14 and Kalamata (GRE) on March 26 – 28, 2010.