Olympic champions Russia leads group qualifications at rhythmic gymnastics Olympic trial

BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The reigning world and Olympic champions Russia led through the two-session qualifications with 35.125 points at the rhythmic gymnastics Olympic pre-games event in the Beijing Univerity of Technology Gymnasiumon Thursday.

Russia collected 17.625 points out of three hoops and two clubs, in additional to their 17.500 in five ropes a day earlier, to place easy first in preliminaries.

Italy, the runners-up of Olympics and world championships, was 1.125 points behind Russia to be ranked second. They scored 16.825 and 17.175 in five ropes, three hoops and two clubs separately..

Belarus retained their third place with 33.875 points. Their marks in two apparatus were 16.700 and 17.125.

The Russian five of Anna Gavrilenko, Tatiana Gorbunova, Elena Posevina, Daria Shkurikhina and Natalia Zueva showed just why Russia has dominated this event for so many years.

Unlike their competitors, not only they manage to maintain a level of synchronization that is almost beyond belief, but they do so with an interpretation of music which was rarely seen throughout the other performances.

They sparkled the spectators throughout the two-day's qualifications. The Russian enjoyed a joyful cheers as much as that received by Chinese gymnasts with their dazzling routine.

Italy is also a well rehearsed group and capable of high level execution they, but they just could not overstep the hurdle of Russia. The Italians are always second to Russia like the Athens Olympics, the 2005 Baku and the 2007 Patras world championships.

Bulgaria was one place up from first session, notching 33.300 points to place fourth.

There was joy for the home crowd too, as they saw China finish joint fifth in 32.850, one place down from session one.

The home crowd screamed throughout as the Chinese five of Chou Tao, Lu Yuanyuang, Sui Jianshuang, Sun Dan and Zhang Shuo put together a string of good moves which saw them clock up 16.550.

Spain also looked to impress, using all five members well, each moving with precision and conviction that leant to an overall clinical and well rehearsed feel to the piece.

They earned 32.450 points in total through five ropes' 16.200 and three hoops and two clubs' 16.250.

Behind Spain followed Israel (32.400), Ukraine (31.925), Japan (31.100) and Azerbaijan (30.350).