Rhythmic Graces Grab Olympic Spotlight

Sports | August 26, 2004, Thursday // 00:00
Rhythmic Graces Grab Olympic Spotlight Bulgaria's Simona Peycheva ranked 6th after performing with ball and hoop during Thursday's individual all-around qualification of the rhythmic gymnastics event at the 2004 Olympic Games. Photo by BNT.

During the last couple of Olympic days Athens will see hot rivalry among the most graceful women globally in the rhythmic gymnastics tournament.

Bulgaria's Simona Peycheva, Elizabeth Paisieva and the national group team will compete with the reigning Russians in the Galatsi Olympic Hall.

The Qualification round, which kicked off on Thursday, involves 24 individuals and 10 groups.

Hot favourites are also Alina Kabaeva, twice world and five times European champion, and Irina Tchachina, gold medallist in the Team All-Around and bronze medallist in the Individual All-Around in the 2003 World Championships in Budapest. They are ahead in the individual ranking after Thursday's individual round with ball and hoop.

Bulgarian Simona Peycheva took 6th place with scores 25,475 at hoop and 24,800 at ball. Elizabeth Paisieva left far behind on 13th place.

Russia, the defending Olympic champions in the Groups, will meet a tough challenge for the gold from Bulgaria, Belarus, Italy, Spain and Greece.

The top eight groups will perform at Saturday's finals, a day ahead of Olympic games' official closing.

The Individuals will execute routines with Hoop and Ball on Thursday, then with Clubs and Ribbon on Friday and the 10 top finishers in the All-Around will proceed to the Final, which will be held on Sunday.

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