ETC: Russia wins the European Team Title again

Russia: Old and new Champion

The national team of host Russia is the old and new Champion of the European Team Championships in Moscow.
In the final the Russian beat the Ukraine (140,574 : 138,324).
The team of Belarus got 71.399 points in the semifinal and placed third. Hungary (67,524) - lost in the semifinal against Russia and came on third place...

UEG-REPORT by Danielle Duchaud
Ukraine - Russia, final event:
Each team presents the two remaining apparatus and can use one Joker.

First rotation: Ukraine begins with Anna Bessonova who presents her routine with ball (9.100). Zozulya obtains a 9.175 on floor and Anna Kvasha 8.875. Russia starts with Tchachina (ball, 9.283), but Bondarenko is not as good as yesterday on the bars (9.150); the young Anna Pavlova succeeds a 9.500 on vault. Total for Russia: 27.933, 2 points more that Ukraine.

Second and last rotation: the Joker can now make the difference. Ukraine begins and Bessonova plays the Joker with her hoop routine. With a performance, which is as good as the one yesterday, she obtains 18.400. Alexander Beresh on the horizontal bar can not avoid the fall at the end of his exercise (8.925). Irina Jarotska on beam can’t save her team (9.00) which has a final score of 63.575. The Russian gymnasts know the results of their opponents but each one of them must present a good exercise, as nothing is certain, in particular with the Joker. Alina Kabaeva presents a brilliant hoop routine (18.800 with the Joker) and Nemov a perfect exercise on the horizontal bar (9.750); victory is just around the corner. Svetlana Khorkina now had to confirm the result with her routine on the uneven bars so that Russia could win once again and she did it perfectly with 9.750.
(- from Moscow: Danielle Duchaud/UEG)

R E S U L T S
II. EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2003
Moscow, May 4

Final Day:
1. RUSSIA 140,574
1. UKRAINE 138,324
3. BELARUS 71,399
4. Hungary 67,524

Detailed Results
<< FINAL
<< Semi final

Qualification, 1st Day:
On the 2nd European Team Championships ETC in artistic and rhythmic gymnastics the team from Russia leads after the today's qualification before Ukraine and Belarus. The 4th finalist became the team from Hungary.
This four teams won their qualifying duels against Bulgaria, Austria, Italy and Great Britain. The winner will participate in the semi-finals on Sunday. More than 3.500 spectators saw the competitions today.
The best gymnasts of Russian team were Alexei Bondarenko on parallel bars (Joker), Svetlana Khorkina (on the uneven bars, with Joker) and the both rhythmic gymnasts Alina Kabaeva and Irina Tchachina (with hoop, Joker).

Results, Qualification, quarter final:
UKR - AUT : 134,440 : 117,823
GBR - HUN : 120,147 : 122,464
RUS - BUL : 139,107 : 116,374
ITA - BLR : 130,382 : 131,482
... Jovchev crashed on floor; Karpenko fell twice on uneven bars.
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... qualified for semi final (on Sunday):
- Russia > Hungary
- Ukraine > Belorussia
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... other placements:
5. Italy (130,832)
6. Great Britain (120,147)
7. Austria (117,823)
8. Bulgaria (116,374)

Detailed Results, Qualification
(source: UEG)