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China Claims Two Group Titles in Rhythmic Gymnastics at Universiade
China took two golds out of three in group 5 Clubs and 3 Rope 2 Ball while Ukraine Olympian Tamara Yerofeyeva claimed victory in the individual all-around in the rhythmic gymnastics competition at the 21st World University Games Thursday.
The Chinese team accumulated 27.550 points for its 5 Clubs final and 27.016 in 3 Rope 2 Ball, beating the strong Russian team to the second place at 26.783 and 26.616 and Japan 25.666 and 25. 700, respectively.
Mo Xiaohua, a member of the Chinese team, said:"It is our first victory in an international event. We did not expect to win the golds but we were confident to show our best."
Mo attributed timely understanding of the new rules of rhythmic gymnastics among Chinese coaches and judges and the right music to their success.
"We have better understandings of the news rules thanks to our coaches and judges," said the 18-year-old. "Besides, we have the right choice of music."
Mo explained that Chinese gymnasts are not as tall as the Russians, therefore they have to show off their suppleness and agility in fast-pace music.
"Comparing to Russian's slow music and slow performance, ours are more difficult," she said.
Yerofeyeva, who finished sixth in the all-around event at the Sydney Olympic Games, pocketed her first international title with 110.932 points, followed by Tkachenko of Belarus at 108.231 and Olga Delova from Russia with 106.300.
Yerofeyeva, a 20-year-old junior from Kiev Sports Institute, said it is an unexpected victory.
"I have never won the title in individual all-around competition," Yerofeyeva said.
The rope champion in European Championships last year, Yerofeyeva said she has no intention for winning medals, but insisted she only cares about her performance.
"I always concentrate on my routines, not medals. I just try my best," said Yerofeyeva, who started rhythmic gymnastics training at the age of seven.
There are four individual rhythmic gymnastics golds at stake on Friday.
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