BUDAPEST, Hungary, 28 September 2003 — Russia defended its title on Friday in the group competition at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships to lead eight countries in qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2004.
Russia scored a total of .50.325 points in the two exercises: five ribbons and three hoops and two balls.
Bulgaria took second with 50.175 points. Italy and Belarus tied for third with 46.450 each.
The top eight teams qualiyfing for the group competition at the Olympics. Two more wild card teams will be chosen.
Russia took the gold in groups ahead of Greece and Ukraine.
The individual all around finals are on the next day.
All the 30 finalists start from zero but the favorites are Ukraine’s Anna Bessonova and Russia’s Alina Kabaeva, who split the four individual events so far.
Kabaeva won four of five events in 2001 but had her medals taken away when she was suspended for testing positive for furosemide — a diuretic sometimes used to shed weight quickly or mask other drugs — at the Goodwill Games.
