GYMNASTICS Preview: Averina & Averina take on Ashram in final RhythmicWorld Cup, in Baku

Russia's Rhythmic World Champion Dina Averina

The fourth and final round of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup comes this weekend at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku (AZE), with Russia working on a sweep of the All-Around, Ball and Ribbon events.

Over the first three meets, Russian entries have won 13 of the 15 events, with only Israel’s Linoy Ashram winning in Hoop and Clubs in the second event in Sofia (BUL).

A total of 71 gymnasts are entered for Baku, including the world’s top Rhythmic stars:

● Dina Averina (RUS) ~ 2018 World All-Around-Hoop-Ball-Clubs champ
● Arina Averina (RUS) ~ 2017 Worlds All-Around silver; Ball & Ribbon golds
● Linoy Ashram (ISR) ~ 2018 Worlds All-Around and Hoop silvers; Ribbon bronze
● Milena Baldassarri (ITA) ~ 2018 Worlds Ribbon silver medalist
● Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA) ~ 2018 Worlds Ball bronze medalist
● Katsiaryna Halkina (BLR) ~ 2017-18 Worlds Clubs silver medalist
● Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) ~ 2019 World Cup Tashkent All-Around silver
● Kaho Minigawa (JPN) ~ 2017 Worlds Hoop bronze medalist
● Katrin Taseva (BUL) ~ 2019 World Cup Sofia Ball-Clubs-Ribbon silvers

The two U.S. entries include Laura Zeng (USA), winner of five World Cup medals in her career, and Camilla Feeley, the 2016 U.S. All-Around silver medalist.

The Averinas competed in the first World Cup, in Pesaro (ITA) and won all five events between them, with Dina taking the All-Around. Ashram was in the second World Cup in Sofia, and was second in the All-Around and won medals (2-0-2) in the other four events.

Prize money is offered for the top eight places in the All-Around, as $2,000-1,5000-1,000-500-400-300-200-100 and for each apparatus as $1,000-750-500-300-250-200-150-100. Look for results here.