1st Youth Olympic Games
Singapore (SIN), August 14 – 26, 2010
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Qualifications
SINGAPORE (SIN), FIG Office, August 24, 2010: Rhythmic gymnasts at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games gave their first appearance at Singapore’s Bishan Sports Hall during yesterday’s Podium Training. When they returned today to compete in the Individual and Group Qualifications, the 15 year old gymnasts delighted the crowd with flexibility, grace and masterful apparatus handling.
Individuals
A total of eighteen Individual gymnasts representing as many countries had qualified for this event and displayed their skill in four rotations on Rope, Hoop, Ball and Clubs. The top eight ranked proceeded to the All-around Finals.
After the first two rotations featuring performances on Rope and Hoop, Russia’s Alexandra Merkulova (51.850) and Arina Charopa of Belarus (51.475) gained a head start over the rest of the field. Coming from countries with a traditionally strong background in this discipline, and having done well at the YOG qualifying Junior European Championships in Bremen (GER), both were expected to do well in Singapore. Alexandra actually won the Junior European All-around title, while Arina placed fourth.
Originally, Belarus had entered Nataliya Lashcyk to these Games, who in Bremen won the Bronze with a mere .525 margin over Arina. It was only due to an injury that Nataliya withdrew and Arina took her spot at the last minute.
Bulgaria’s Anastasiya Kisse, 6th in Bremen, placed third at the midway mark (49.525), followed by Junior European Silver medallist Jana Berezko-Marggrander of Germany (48.650).
Extra support from the grandstands was given to Wan Nin Lee of Singapore’s neighbouring Malaysia. Qualified for the YOG at the Junior Asian Championships in Chiba (JPN) in eighth position, she held on to a fantastic rank five after two heats.
At this point in time, the Ukraine’s Viktoriia Shynkarenko, Polina Kozitskiy (USA) and Victoria Filanovsky of Israel were among the top eight gymnasts.
During rotation three, which featured routines on Ball and Clubs respectively, the top of the field confirmed their positions with only Polina dropping back after encountering problems controlling the ball. The Junior Pan-American All-around Silver medallist would have to give the Clubs exercise of her life in the final rotation in order to qualify for the Finals.
Aziza Mamadjanova of Uzbekistan, Junior Asian All-around Champion, impressed with a very smooth and fluid performance on Ball in this rotation (22.975), which moved her up into qualifying rank eight.
Victoria of Israel, last competitor in heat three, was also able to improve her ranking. She scored a 23.825 on Clubs, which meant a provisional overall position six for her.
Knowing she would have to give it everything she had, Polina, who opened the last rotation, was focused and delivered a clean performance on Clubs. Her 22.700 was the second best score on this apparatus in the final heat and qualified her in eighth position (91.975).
After problems during her Ball routine, Spain’s Eugenya Onopko redeemed herself on Clubs, scoring a 21.675 and reaching an overall 87.950. She ended up 10th overall, failing to qualify for the Finals.
With high Difficulty scores and clean Execution, Alexandra (103.425) and Arina (102.225) remained consistent all throughout these preliminaries, heading the rankings in positions one and two.
Alexandra had the crowd at a packed Bishan Sports Hall clapping along as she performed her club routine to a popular Russian song, 'We are not afraid of wolves'. 'It suits me so much and I enjoy this music tremendously,' she said adding that while she finished first, she still wants to improve. 'I can perform better tomorrow. I had small mistakes in rope and clubs. I want to go to bed earlier and will go through the routines in my mind.'
When asked about her formula for success, Arina said it's all about respect. 'I love all the apparatus,' she said. 'You don't dare to dislike any of them, they may take revenge on you for it! You should love every one of them.'
Jana and Anastasiya tied with 97.825 points in ranks three and four. They showed impressive mastery of the ball, making it look both elegant and easy. Jana commented after the competition: 'I was a bit nervous and had to pull myself together, but it wasn't very difficult because I had already competed at the Junior European Championships and placed second.'
Wan Nin was the high scorer on Clubs in this rotation! Her score (24.425) was topped only by Jana and Alexandra in round three. The young Malaysian secured her Final spot with an overall rank five, making her home country proud and pleasing spectators at Bishan Sports Hall.
Viktoriia (UKR), Aziza (UZB) and Victoria (ISR) were the last competitors in Individuals tonight, and all three of them had so far kept their chance to qualify for the Final round. Viktoriia’s elegant style was eye-catching, and she qualified in seventh (92.375).
Victoria maintained her sixth position and Aziza was left empty handed today, failing to make the cut in ninth with 90.350 points.
Groups
Six groups of four gymnasts representing all continents participated in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group competition with routines on four Hoops and four Ribbons, trying to get one of the four spots in tomorrow’s All-around Finals.
The local crowd could not wait to see Shing Eng Chia, Miki Erica Nomura, Lin Phaan Yi and Kwee Peng Ann Sim enter the Field of Play; these women represent Singapore in this category!
The girls have been training together as a team for just two years under the guidance of Zhu Xiao Ping (CHN). They see each other not only as members of a gymnastics team, but as sisters who share more than ribbons and hoops. 'We're not that strong individually, but as a team we are, doing everything together,' Shing Eng said. 'You need teamwork and bonding. It's not what you do alone, but what you do as a group,' she added.
With regards to this Group’s home game here in Singapore at the Youth Olympic Games, the 15 year old gymnast added: 'It feels more secure to perform in our home country, but there’s more pressure, too.”
The four Singaporean gymnasts competed with Groups from Egypt, Russia, Japan, Australia and Canada and they were first up tonight on the rhythmic floor!
Apart from a shocking moment when one of their hoops went out of bounds, the four young Singaporeans did a good job tonight making their home country proud. However, they failed to make the cut (39.150), placing 5th with a 2.0 margin behind fourth ranked and qualified Canada (41.150).
'We could have performed better with ribbons,' said Canadian coach Svetlana Joukova. 'The girls are well prepared physically, but not mentally. It is their first time at an international competition of such level. We want to win a medal.'
Lacking Difficulty in their routines, team Australia placed 6th (37.150).
As the only Group having participated at the Junior African Championships, Egypt does not have many competitors on an international level yet. However, the girls kept calm and focused, managing to perform well tonight and placed themselves third (41.650).
The Groups of Russia and Japan were far ahead of their contenders, displaying elements of higher Difficulty, which they mastered with style and elegance. They qualify in the top positions with Russia heading the field (52.250), followed by Japan (45.900).
Check the results!
Rhythmic Gymnastics Finals for both Individuals and Groups will take place tomorrow afternoon at Bishan Sports Hall, concluding the Gymnastics events of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
