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Russia’s Averina wins another gold at 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

Earlier in the day, Dina Averina won gold in the women’s hoop exercise

Dina Averina EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

Dina Averina

© EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Russian gymnast Dina Averina snatched another gold on Wednesday at the 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Japan’s Kitakyushu winning in the women’s ball exercise.

Judges awarded the Russian athlete 29.125 points for her performance in the ball exercise, which earned Averina the gold.

Her teammate and sister, Arina Averina, took the silver with 27.675 points and the bronze went to Alina Gornosko of Belarus (27.300 points).

Earlier in the day, Dina Averina won gold in the women’s hoop exercise at the World Championships in Japan. Her sister Arina was qualified following the hoop exercise in 6th place.

Speaking to a TASS journalist after winning two gold medals of the World Championships, Averina said: "The first day [upon the arrival to Japan], as well as today were the most difficult ones."

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Russian gymnast Melnikova says missed national flag and anthem in Japan’s Kitakyushu

"However, I’m trying not to think about the time difference with Japan," she said in an interview with TASS. "For instance, it is evening here right now and this is how I live without thinking about the time of the day in Moscow."

"It is not easy for all of us and everyone is under equal conditions," she continued.

"If we speak about my competitors, I should say that I never watch them performing, because I am the main competitor for myself and I must win over myself," Averina said. "I must enjoy a win not against anyone else, but over myself, and this is what is very difficult. This is what Irina [Viner-Usmanova] teaches us to do and we are trying our best."

Dina Averina, 23, is now the 15-time World Champion in addition to her two silver and one bronze of the world championships. She is also the 10-time winner of the European Championships.

2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships

The gold medal winners of the gymnastics competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo decided against participating in Japan’s Kitakyushu tournament this year. Israel’s 2020 Olympic Champion in the women’s all-around event, Linoy Ashram, announced more than a month and a half ago her decision to skip this championship.

The national team of Bulgarian athletes announced their withdrawal from the team competitions on Tuesday after one of its gymnasts suffered an injury during a training session in Kitakyushu.

The 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Japan’s Kitakyushu is running between October 27 and 31. The Japanese city also hosted the 2021 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on October 18-24.

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