site.bta70 Countries to Participate in Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Sofia

About 370 girls from 70 countries have bid to participate in the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, which will be held at Arena 8888 Sofia in the Bulgarian capital between June 18 and 22.

The first two days, June 18 and 19, are set aside for individual qualifications for the June 22 apparatus finals (top eight at each apparatus). The opening day will see qualifications at hoop and ball, with routines alternating between the two apparatuses, and the second day will be dedicated to clubs and ribbon.

The group competition will begin on June 21. Unlike the individual qualifications, the group qualifications count towards the all-around event as well as the apparatus events. Each ensemble is supposed to present two routines, one with five hoops and the other with five pairs of clubs. The day will end with the first two award ceremonies, for the all-around title and the team title, the latter of which will go to the nation with the highest combined results from the four individual and two group routines.

The apparatus finals (four individual and two group titles) will be held on the last day of the Championships, Sunday, June 22.

These will be just the third junior world championships in rhythmic gymnastics. They have attracted gymnasts from around the world, with a record 70 countries registered for participation. Nations like Syria and Madagascar will take part for the first time.

In the group competition, European junior champions Ukraine and Pan American champions Brazil are expected to fight an intense battle. Other strong ensembles are Bulgaria, Israel, Spain and Italy.

Natalie de la Rosa of the United States stands out among the individual entrants. Natalie won six gold medals at the Junior Pan American Championships in May. In Sofia, she will perform with hoop and with clubs.

Bulgaria's hopefuls are Magdalena Valkova (hoop, ribbon), Aleksa Rasheva (ball) and Anastasia Kaleva (clubs). They have earned a number of accolades this season.