Former world champion Olga Kapranova won the individual all-around title at the Good Luck Beijing 2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics International Invitational Tournament. The Russian scored 73.825, while Olympic bronze medalist, Anna Bessonova, could only manage 70.25 to finish in second place, after making a big mistake in the hoop while Aliya Garayeva claimed bronze.

In the rope Bessanova's vibrant routine was reflected by her luminous orange costume. Barely missing a beat her staccato movement and control of the rope saw her improve upon her qualification score to record 18.25. But Kapranova was of course equal to the challenge, with her divine rotations and once again immaculate routine seeing her not only outscore her longstanding rival but also equalling hers, and the then competition's, top score for an individual apparatus, with 18.475. Significantly the rope was the only apparatus in which all 10 finalists improved upon their qualification scores.

The hoop was always going to play an important part in the final, between Kapranova and Bessanova, due to the fact it was the only apparatus Bessonova was not currently ranked number one in the world, but for the Ukrainian it proved to be nothing more than a nightmare. Uncharacteristically she lost control of her hoop on two occasions, the first within 20 seconds of opening the routine, when she threw it out of the floor and had to retrieve it, then again midway, when she over rotated it. In contrast to her qualification routine she chose to wear black, and it was perhaps fitting given the grave circumstances of her performance, which saw her penalised and awarded 2.625 less than in qualification.

The final was now very much for Kapranova's taking, but it also blew the competition wide open, with Garayeva and Aliya Yussupova waiting patiently in the wings for their chance to challenge the top two and both did so with immediate effect, with much improved performances in the hoop that took them above the world champion. All eyes were on Kapranova when she took to the floor and she gave a rousing performance to Puccini's Turandot', which had the crowd cheering with applause that was only equalled by the home support offered to Chinese gymnasts Ding Yidan.

Bessonova bounced back when she opened the third rotation, the clubs, with a tremendous routine. Every last detail was what was expected of a world champion, with good control, great interpretation of Hans Zimmer's. The Gladiator' and even a military style costume to match. The Ukrainian had fought her way back into contention for second place.

But focus was soon switched back to the outstanding gymnast of the night, Kapranova. The Russian had dazzled the crowd in qualification with the clubs, and she did so again in the final. The mesmerised crowd watched as she moved with grace and ease, before being awarded 18.525, meaning the title was all but in her reach, baring a major error in the final rotation.

With Garayeva opening the ribbon, and Bessonova closing it, the pressure was on the Ukrainian to come out and secure more than 17.65 in order to grab silver. Opting for the Chinese colour of good luck, red, as opposed to her purple costume in the qualification, Bessonova snaked around the floor and was given 18.125 for her efforts, thus meaning she finished second with a score of 70.250. Regardless of the fact that she had been penalised in the hoop she would not have beaten Kapranova unless she had scored 19.2 in that apparatus.

As for Kapranova, she wrapped up the title with yet again another wonderfully constructed and convicted routien. Her boomerang throws and choreography were as elegant as the blue costume she donned and for the 20 year old, who celebrated her birthday on the second day of qualification, she looked extremely comfortable at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, where she remained undefeated in all four apparatus on all three days. The Russian beauty moved as though the venue had been purpose built for her, which surely makes a strong contender for Olympic gold next year.

Garayeva did enough to win the bronze medal while the Doha Asian Games 2006 champion, Aliya Yussupova finished in fourth on 67.575, followed by Belarussian Lyubov Cherkashina (66.875). The competition's oldest competitor, Almudena Cid, entertained and won many new fans during the invitational, with her beaming smile and exciting routines, she finished in 6th with 65.4. Behind her were Irina Risenzon of Israel (65.4), Alexandra Orlando of Canada (64.175), Stela Sultanova of Bulgaria (63.375) and Ding Yidan (62.925). /ONS za/tmq.ql