Review July 25, 2009
KAOHSIUNG (TPE), FIG Office, July 25, 2009: The second and last day of exciting Aerobic action at these World Games featured Qualifications and Finals in the Women’s Individual, Trio and Group categories in Kaohsiung’s Cultural Centre Jhihde Hall.
Gymnasts from China, Romania, France, Brazil, Russia and New Zealand medalled tonight, and China topped today’s rankings with one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze. Spectacular!
The crowd welcomed special guest Ms Chi Cheng (TPE) to the Cultural Centre. Known as the “Flying Antelope”, the 1968 Bronze Olympic medallist on 80 m hurdles is considered Asia’s top female track and field athlete of the 20th century, and her country’s pride and joy. Wonderful having her visiting the Aerobic competitions in Kaohsiung’s Jhihde Hall!
Women’s Individual
In a top-drawer competition of the Women’s Individual category, World Champion Marcela Lopez (BRA) dominated once again, claiming her first World Games Gold (20.900). Having led the qualifying rounds, Lopez triumphed with a comfortable .300 margin over New Zealand’s Silver Medallist Angela McMillan. The latter forced her way to the podium with 20.600 points after ranking fourth in the preliminaries. With a repeat performance of this morning’s 20.150 point qualifying score, China’s Hang Jinxuan slid into third place and carried off the Bronze. Third in the Qualification, Italian Giulia Bianchi was relegated to an ultimate fifth place (19.350) while 2008 World Championships runner-up Cristina Simona Nedelcu (ROU) took fourth with 19.900. Spain’s Elmira Dassaeva ranked sixth (19.350) in both the preliminaries and the Final, outdoing Aurélie Joly (FRA) and Denitsa Parichkova (BUL), who failed to qualify altogether.
Results Qualifications
Results Finals
Gold – LOPEZ Marcela (BRA) – Total: 20.900
Silver – MCMILLAN Angela (NZL) – Total: 20.600
Bronze – HUANG Jinxuan (CHN) – Total: 20.150
Trio
The rules of Aerobic Gymnastics allow entries of all men, all women or mixed compositions to the Trio and Group categories, which guarantees a vast range of performances.
2008 World Champions Romania and runner-up China delivered the promised nip and tuck race for Aerobic Trios; a real crowd pleaser that set the hall ablaze! With a 21.150 point tie in the preliminaries, China placed ahead of Romania, an outcome due primarily to the tie break rules. Both Trios improved their score in the final round, which saw Romania nose out China with 21.550. China scored 21.300 and settled for the Silver. Confirming a well-earned third place in the qualifying round, France reached its goal and stepped up to the Bronze (20.800). Russia came fourth (20.250) just ahead of Italy (5.) and Vietnam (6.). Despite an enthusiastic and supportive crowd, Chinese Taipei’s all-women Trio failed to qualify for the final round, but ranked seventh with a score of 17.905.
Results Qualifications
Results Finals
Gold – ROU: BRINZEA – MAVRODINEANU - ZAMFIR - Total: 21.550
Silver – CHN: TAO – CHE – ZHAN - Total: 21.300
Bronze – FRA: GARAVEL – GARAVEL – JACQUEMIN – Total: 20.800
Group
Double World Champions in the Group category, China was again successful tonight, scoring a Gold-winning 20.850. Romania came second with 20.742 as Russia, flaunting all three Trio members in its Group formation, took home a 20.000 pt Bronze after having scarcely qualified in 6th.The Hungarian Group was pleased with their score during the preliminaries (19.557), which placed them third, but they dropped to fifth in the end with a meagre 19.394. France came fourth (19.410) and Italy finished last in these Finals (18.581).
Japan and Germany did not qualify for the Finals.
Results Qualifications
Results Finals
Gold – CHN: CHE – HE - NI – TAO – YU – ZHANG - Total: 20.850
Silver – ROU: CRISTACHE – CONSTANTIN – HOTCA - NEDELCU – SURDU – ANTONESCU - Total: 20.742
Bronze – RUS: FARAKSHATOV – KONDRATICHEV – NAZARIEV - SHISHIGIN – TIKHOMIROV – TRUSHKOV - Total: 20.000
The gymnastic events of the 8th World Games in Kaohsiung conclude tonight with these remarkable Aerobic competitions. Spectators had a chance to see a slew of gripping events here in Kaohsiung, as athletes gave generous world class performances and organisers and their many volunteers outdid themselves hosting the Games!
KOC Chief Executive Officer Ms Chao-uen Hsu (TPE) thanked the competitors, volunteers and the wonderful audience before FIG Vice President Dr Michel Léglise (FRA) officially declared the gymnastics events of the 8th World Games in Kaohsiung closed.
With this edition the overall level of the World Games as the world’s most significant international multi-sport event for non-Olympic sports has been raised, confirmed Ron Fröhlich (USA), President of the International World Games Association (IWGA). The Games will conclude with a spectacular Closing Ceremony tonight at Kaohsiung’s attractive Main Stadium (Check the ceremony’s outline!).
The IWGA officially announced on Tuesday that the 2013 World Games have been attributed to the City of Cali in Colombia. The 9th edition of the World Games was initially attributed to the German cities of Duisburg and Dusseldorf, but these were forced to withdraw as co-hosts in December of last year due to financial concerns. 2013 will be the first time this diverse multi-sport event has ever been held in South America. We are looking forward to it!
See you again in 2013! See you in Cali!
