Individual A-A winner Olga Kapranova in action

(Beijing, December 7) The Russians collected both the individual and group all-around golds of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics International Invitational Tournament which concluded at Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium this evening. China took a bronze in the group event.

In the individual all-around final, Ukrainian Anna Bessonova, titlist of the World Championships this year and second finisher in the qualification, was deducted 0.4 for failing to make an easy toss and catch movement and only got 15.625 to be content with silver, Her final score being 70.250.

Olga Kapranova of Russia, top finisher in all the four individual rounds, didn't give any opportunities to her opponents today to gain 73.825 for the win, leading her arch rival Bessonova by 3.575.

Aliya Garayeva of Azerbaijan took the bronze with 69.775 while China's Ding Yidan placed at the bottom with 65.400 on aggregate.

In the group all-around final held later, World Championships and Olympic double champions Russia displayed their unshakeable dominance of the event as the five Russian gymnasts worked closely as one with graceful formations to earn a high artistic impression score of 9.200 in the rope fivesomes for an overall 35.075 top finisher at the standings.

The silver and bronze went to Italy (34.600) and China (34.050) respectively. Difficult originality in exchanges of apparatus was highlighted in the final routines of hoop trios and club pairs by the Italians, who scored 17.575 to take the silver with 34.600.

Finishing with 16.300 in the qualification round, China improved their artistic expressions of the routines this evening to earn 16.950 for the third place with 34.050.