22nd Acro Worlds Wrocław: The first Titles went to USA and Russia

* Qualification, Part II and the first two Finals
At the second day of the 22nd  Acrobatic World Championships in Wrocław, Saturday, July 17, the qualifications were continued and it was the day of first decisions:
The Belgian duo in the Mixed Pair category lost the lead but the US pair Michael Rodrigues & Kristin Allen where the best and won their first gold medal.

Leading after all the qualification rounds the title of the Women's Groups wnt to the Russian trio Ekaterina Stroynova, Ekaterina Loginova and Aygul Shaykhudinova.

In all the three other disciplined - women's and men's pairs and men's groups the qualification will continue at  Sunday, followed by the Finals at the last day of these Worlds in Poland ...

Balance
The second series of qualifying rounds got off to a good start with an outstanding exercise by China’s Huang/Zhang, who are so utterly graceful in their static holds that we forget to watch for difficulty. A slight mistake on an individual element and insufficient choreographic content cost them a few points in the overall ranking (5th). Russia’s Okulova/Gurgenidze, who were finally able to dazzle fans with their artistic talent and incredible energy, slid in front of the Chinese, but a lack of technical difficulties (D Score: 9.90) and unwieldy technical execution kept them from taking the lead. They finished 4th, just behind both Belgian Pairs and the United States, who performed superbly romantic choreography. We look forward to seeing the Americans tomorrow.
Belgian Vanderghote/Van Gelder gave a phenomenal technical and artistic performance: light but dynamic choreography, precise though fluid technique, they won the hearts of both public and judges alike. Their compatriots De Roech/Van Wijk were not far behind (0.247); stability and artistic expression characterized a magnificent performance. With both Belgian Pairs in the lead, two looming questions emerge: which of the two Belgian Pairs will move on to the Final, since only one per nation will make it, and who will follow in their wake? Waiting in the wings are the surprising young Portuguese: Sarnebto/Gradim and the charming Bulgarian Pair Ivanova/Kirov.

* 2nd Day:

>> FINAL RESULTS

* WOMEN's GROUPS
Balance
These young women provided us with a beautiful competition. Of the 17 Trios hoping to qualify, the level of the competition is such that nine of them have a realistic shot at accessing the top ranks. The bar was set high from the get-go with a 27.950 score for Belgium’s Van Hombeek/Croket/Vanstaen, the first to perform. Russia’s Shaykhudinova/Stroyonova/Loginova, who harbour pretty realistic hopes for the world title, gave an impressive technical demonstration of stability, which placed them in the lead temporarily ahead of British Miller/Walters/Smith, the only Trio with a top to perform Mexican positions with wide arms. France (Le Corre/Dupire-Betoule/Eouzan) and the Ukraine (Kalyta/Vinnik/Odintsova) placed 4th and 5th respectively in the provisional ranking.

Dynamic
Britain’s Miller/Walters/Smith were the first of the potential finalists to take to the floor. Laden with difficulties and weighty choreography, their exercise was worth a solid 27.853. Russia’s Shaykhudinova/Stroyonova/Loginova broke out into a rousing Brazilian samba that enabled the tiny Aygul Shaykhudinova to fly through the air in so many positions; they took the lead with a near 1.3 point margin over Britain.

* WOMEN's Pairs
Balance
Title aspirants from Belarus, Alina Yushko and Katsiaryrina Murashko, were the first of ten Women’s Pairs to enter the floor in this category. Setting the bar high for the ones to come, they performed magnificent, clean-cut choreography (28.550).
Unfortunately, both Chinese Pairs experienced falls from their top partners and the resulting deductions placed them at the end of the table. Germany’s Janina Hiller and Sophia Mueller made their delegation proud, presenting a solid performance (28.151) that placed them fifth between the two Pairs from Russia.
Fulfilling high expectations, well-known Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova of Azerbaijan offered up a beautiful and nearly perfect routine technically, taking the top of the ranking (28.661).
Kateryna Sytnikova and Anastasiya Melnychenko, the young and rising Pair from  the Ukraine, showed a clean exercise that put them in third today (28.528), breathing down the necks of the Azerbaijanis and Belarusians.
*** Qualifications in Women’s Pairs continues with Combined exercises and Finals on Sunday at 5:00 pm.

* MEN's PAIRS - Dynamic
After the withdrawal of Poland’s entry due to injury, thirteen Men’s Pairs were left to line up here in Wroclaw, all aiming for one of the eight spots available in the Finals.
Here’s what we witnessed:
Russia’s second entry, the young Ivanov brothers, gave a solid performance at their world debut. A 27.800 placed them sixth in this first heat. Yang Hengyi and Chen Hongen of China, who took fourth place in 2009 in Kaohsiung, ranked a mere .015 ahead of the Russians, but they were soon outperformed by the upcoming stars from Belarus. Yauheni Kalachou and Ruslan Fedchanka were given slightly higher scores in Artistic and Execution, placing them fourth.
The Ukraine, home to the reigning World Champions, presented their new Senior Men’s Pair Iaroslav Pulin and Dmytro Tarasenko, who impressed with a very solid routine today; they soared to the top of the ranking … temporarily! Big names were still to come.

Top favourites in this event, Konstantin Pilipchuk and Alexey Dudchenko of Russia, followed on their heels, and they did not disappoint! Convincingly clear and more solid than the Ukrainians, they scored the highest Execution mark in this category (9.300), placing first (28.502).

The competition was exciting until the end featuring Great Britain’s Edward Upcott and Douglas Fordyce last up. The 2009 World Games Bronze medallists flawlessly went through a strong routine, and a meagre .1 difference in Execution placed them second behind the Russians.
**** Qualifications in Men’s Pairs continues with Combined exercises  and the Final on Sunday at 4:00 pm.

* MEN's GROUPS - Dynamic
The ten Men’s Groups started off the competition with spectacular, dynamic exercises and we saw a high number of triple saltos today.
Disappointed by a fall by their top, the first Group entering the floor, Belarus 1, took a beating with a poor 24.350, and ultimately last place.
As expected, the Chinese Groups soon soared to the top of the ranking. Both Groups impressed once again with powerful, spectacular elements set to traditional Chinese music. The enthusiastic public rewarded them with loud support from the grandstands. China 1 with Xue, Fang, Zhao and Han scored a solid 28.350.

The Quattro from Russia, compatriots of the current World Champions in this category who are not competing this year, also had a fall and missed a chance at the top.

The Polish four was next to enter. They pleased their fans with original choreography that featured a split into two pairs; they placed behind the Chinese (27.403) and got away with an ultimate sixth rank.

Then the two strong Groups from Great Britain stepped up to the plate. Buckingham / Mcassey / Uttley / Stranks took the top ahead of China with a total score of 28.536, .2 pts higher in Execution than their contenders. Their team-mates made it to rank three (27.754) leaving China 2 in fourth place (27.598).
**** Qualifications for the six Final spots available in Men’s Groups continue with Combined exercises and the Final on Sunday at 5:50 pm.
* Source: f i g

* RESULTS, after Day 2:
>> MIXED Pair (dynamic/balance/combined) > Final
>>WOMEN's Group (dyn./balan./comb.)          > Final
  > WOMEN's Pair (balance/dynamic/ ); 
  > MEN's Pair (dynamic/dynamic/ )
  > MEN's Group (dynamic/balance/ )

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