Japan's five-woman team won two bronze medals for their ball, and hoop and club routines at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships on Sunday, the final day of the International Federation of Gymnastics competition.
In the five balls event final, the team of Sayuri Sugimoto, Rie Matsubara, Ayuka Suzuki, Rinako Inaki and Rina Imaoka finished behind the Russian team, who led the field with 46.000 points and runners-up Italy, who combined for 45.600 points.
Japan's rhythmic gymnastics team, nicknamed Fairy Japan, had won the group five balls gold medal in Baku in 2019.
Later in the routine performed with three hoops and two sets of clubs, won by Italy with 42.275 points, Japan bagged another bronze.
"I was nervous competing in my first worlds but it was nice to get a boost from a cheering crowd and be able to dance four times (in the individual and group events). I want to qualify for the Paris Olympics and win a medal," Imaoka said.
Olympic champions Bulgaria withdrew from the Oct. 27-31 event after one of its gymnasts suffered an injury during a training session.
Due to sports sanctions against Russia, the country's gymnasts participated in the international tournament in Japan as Team RGF (Russian Gymnastics Federation).
The 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held at West Japan General Exhibition Center Annex in Kitakyushu. The Japanese city also hosted the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Oct. 18-24.
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