The FIG Rhythmic World Cup stops this week in Tashkent (UZB), with a strong field, including Russia’s next star? The headliners:
● Aleksandra Soldatova (RUS) ~ 2015-18 Worlds Team gold; 2018 All-Around bronze
● Anastasia Guzenkova (RUS) ~ Age 16; first World Cup on record; a new star?
● Kaho Minagawa (JPN) ~ 2017 Worlds Hoop bronze
● Neviana Vladinova (BUL) ~ 2018 Worlds Team silver; 2018 Ball bronze medalist
● Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) ~ 2018 Worlds Team silver medalist
● Laura Zeng (USA) ~ 1st U.S. World Cup medalist: 5 bronzes in ’16 (2), ’17 (2), ’18 (1)
● Lili Mizuno (USA) ~ 2016 U.S. All-Around runner-up
Soldatova won eight World Cup golds in 2018 and started 2019 strongly, with golds last week in Sofia (BUL) in the All-Around and Ribbon. Kaleyn also won two medals.
Zeng is the most celebrated U.S. Rhythmic performer, and won five golds at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. She will be looking for a World Cup medal for the fourth year in a row.
Prize money for the All-Around is $2,000-1,500-1,000-500-400-300-200-100 for the top eight places and $1,000-750-500-300-250-200-150-100 for each apparatus. Group prize money is $2,000-1,000-500 for the top three places. Look for results to be posted here.
