Penza, 30 April 2012. PenzaNews. Competitions within the third stage of Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup ended in Penza on Sunday, April 29.

According to the press service of sport palace “Burtasy”, Darya Dmitrieva won a gold medal in the exercises with a ribbon and clubs, silver — with a hoop and also bronze — with a ball.

Darya Kondakova was the best in the exercises with a ball and the second — with a ribbon and clubs.

An Azerbaijani gymnast Aliya Garayeva was the best in the exercises with a hoop.

Russian team won in group exercises, having performed with five balls and also in a combination with three ribbons and two hoops.

On the first day of competitions, on April 28, Darya Kondakova was the best in the individual all-round. Darya Dmitrieva was the second and Aliya Garayeva from Azerbaijan took the third place.

Moreover, Russian team won the group all-round, having left behind Japan and Poland teams.

World Cup stage for rhythmic gymnastics in individual and group exercises was held in Penza for the first time. Representatives from 23 countries took part in the competitions. Previously, competitions of such a high level in Russia had been held only in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The competition was the final stage of preparation of the Russian team for the Olympic Games in London. In addition, the selection of gymnasts to the European Championship 2012 will be done on the basis of the results of this competition.

The best Russian athletes of the current rating of the International Gymnastics Federation — Darya Kondakova, Darya Dmitrieva, Alexandra Merkulova and others took part in this competition. Eugenia Kanaeva also arrived in Penza, but missed the competition for health reasons.