Nikolova, Onopriienko and Varfolomeev lead #Baku2023 qualifications

After two long qualification days in Baku’s National Gymnastics Arena, we now know all senior individual finalists!

With 3 scores out of the possible 4 counting towards the all-around ranking, Bulgarian duo Stiliana Nikolova and Boryana Kaleyn came out on top, both scoring 97.850. Nikolova takes the top rank due to the best total of top 2 scores. The starlet impressed with ball, taking the top position there too while she finished third with hoop and we’ll see her in the ribbon final. Teammate and defending Vice-European Champion Boryana Kaleyn hit three-for-three, finishing in the top three on all events. Completing Bulgaria’s individual effort, Eva Brezalieva competed with ribbon only, easily securing her place in the final.

German rising star Darja Varfolomeev ranked third all-around with room to improve with hoop. As the reigning World Champion, she leads with clubs, and is second with ball and ribbon. Viktoriia Onopriienko clearly is on a mission for Ukraine here. Her stunning hoop routine to the tunes of Bizet’s Carmen leads the pack and she leads with ribbon too, in addition to qualifying 4^th all-around and making all apparatus finals. Not a bad day in the office at all!

In front of an ecstatic home crowd, Zohra Aghamirova shone like the brightest star. Finishing 5^th all-around, the Azerbaijani will return to the field of play on Sunday too, with hoop, ball and clubs. Reigning World all-around Champion Sofia Raffaeli struggled throughout the qualification days, placing sixth all-around. Luckily, the young star has the opportunity to set the record straight in all but ribbon final. Her teammate Alexandra Agiurgiuculese enjoyed a successful comeback rewarded with a place in the clubs final while Milena Baldassarri reached the final with ribbon, her only event here in Baku.

Seasoned Slovenian competitor Ekaterina Vedeneeva showed her class yet again to qualify for all-around, clubs and ribbon finals.

Hands up for last year’s junior European Champion with ribbon Daniela Munits (ISR) who made the ribbon final on her senior European debut. We’re delighted to welcome Fanni Pigniczki (HUN), Adi Asya Katz (ISR), Polina Berezina (ESP) and Panagiota Lytra (GRE) in apparatus finals as well.

 

Qualified to finals:

All-Around

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL)
2. Boryana Kaleyn (BUL)
3. Darja Varfolomeev (GER)
4. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR)
5. Zohra Aghamirova (AZE)
6. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA)
7. Adi Asya Katz (ISR)
8. Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO)   
9. Fanni Pigniczki (HUN)            
10. Panagiota Lytra (GRE)
11. Alba Bautista (ESP) 
12. Polina Berezina (EST)
13. Daniela Munits (ISR)            
14. Polina Karika (UKR)
15. Margarita Kolosov (GER)     
16. Annaliese Dragan (ROU)      
17. Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA)
18. Maelle Millet (FRA)
19. Emilia Heichel (POL)
20. Helene Karbanov (FRA)
21. Emmi Piiroinen (FIN)
22. Hanna Panna Wiesner (HUN)
23. Ester Kreitsman (EST)
24. Andreea Verdes (ROU)

Hoop

1. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 33.650
2. Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 33.450
3. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 32.850
4. Fanni Pigniczki (HUN) 32.250
5. Adi Asya Katz (ISR) 32.250
6. Zohra Aghamirova (AZE) 32.150
7. Polina Berezina (ESP) 31.950
8. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 31.900
    

Ball

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 34.600
2. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 33.650
3. Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 33.250
4. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 33.000
5. Zohra Aghamirova (AZE) 32.550
6. Fanni Pigniczki (HUN) 31.700
7. Panagiota Lytra (GRE) 31.600
8. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 31.200
    

Clubs

1. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 31.900
2. Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 31.150
3. Zohra Aghamirova (AZE) 31.050
4. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 30.750
5. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 30.300
6. Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO) 30.200
7. Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA) 29.850
8. Panagiota Lytra (GRE) 29.850
 

Ribbon

1. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 32.050
2. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 31.400
3. Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO) 31.150
4. Eva Brezalieva (BUL) 31.000
5. Adi Asya Katz (ISR) 30.900
6. Daniela Munits (ISR) 30.800
7. Milena Baldassarri (ITA) 30.500
8. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 30.400

The full results are available on our website:  2023 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics | European Gymnastics

These Rhythmic Europeans continue tomorrow with the senior individual and group all-around finals.