Press releases

15 Aug 2019

Minsk to welcome athletes from 32 countries for 2019 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup

Anastasiia Salos

MINSK, 15 August (BelTA) – About 200 athletes from 32 countries will compete for medals at the 2019 FIG World Challenge Cup in Minsk. The competitions will be held at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace on 16-18 August, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Gymnastics Association.

The Belarusian national team will comprise Katsiaryna Halkina and Anastasia Salos, and also the group of Anastasiya Rybakova, Karyna Yarmolenka, Arina Tsitsilina, Hanna Shvaiba, Hanna Haidukevich and Aryna Sushchynskaya.

The competitions in Minsk will feature many well-known gymnasts, including many-time world champions Dina Averina and Arina Averina, two-time champion of the 2nd European Games, medalist of world championships Linoy Ashram of Israel, medalists of world championships Neviana Vladinova and Boryana Kaleyn of Bulgaria, Italy’s Milena Baldassarri and Alexandra Agiurgiuculese, Kaho Minagawa of Japan, and Ukraine’s Vlada Nikolchenko.

At a press conference on 16 August head coach of the Belarusian national team Irina Leparskaya praised full readiness of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace for the tournament. “Very soon we will be able to see that this center can host highly prestigious competitions. Coming here, every athlete understands that her supreme goal is the Olympic Games. The competitions in Minsk will help Katsiaryna Halkina and Anastasia Salos (Alina Harnasko and Yulia Yevchik will be in reserve) test their strength, see what they are capable of, then go to the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Baku and earn the 2020 Tokyo berths,” she said.

Katsiaryna Halkina and Anastasia Salos expressed hope that the home ground will help them show their best.

Last year, Belarus won one gold, one silver and five bronze medals.