Hungary SHOCK in European Cup Cross Battle gold!

Burgas proved the scene of a monumental victory for Hungary’s group in the Cross Battles at the third European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

In a spectacular closing routine that blends rhythmic and football, they moved ahead of Bulgaria and Israel to complete a huge victory.

The Golden Goal

Ask this Hungarian group for their hopes before competition, and a gold was perhaps not even on their minds. But it’s what they’ll leave this European Cup with after two routines that had the crowd wanting even more.

The group faced off with Azerbaijan in their qualifier for the final. And despite the fact their opponents reached the podium just a couple of weeks ago in Baku, Hungary got the better with a score of 24.050 to 22.900

They’d meet Bulgaria and Israel in the decider, after the hosts had beaten Serbia with a mammoth 28.700, while Israel finished above Georgia thanks to their 26.900.

But when the three met, the tension hit hard. While Bulgaria (24.300) and Israel (22.200) didn’t quite get every second right, Hungary did to leave the top of the podium all theirs. And they did so in spectacular fashion, with a three balls/2 hoops routine that includes Brazil-esque football shirts and balls designed as footballs.

“We are very happy” the group said after going gold. “We can’t describe this feeling because we don’t really come to this medal, but we are so happy! We couldn’t believe it…just absolutely shocked. We train, like, 42 hours in a week and now it pays off. We can’t describe this feeling because it’s…wow. We feel incredible!”

Having picked up the winning prize of €10,000, what’s the plan for celebrating? Easy. “We are going to the beach! We are going tomorrow, then we are going to cheer for the juniors because they were so loud for us. Cheer for them and beach!”

Cross Battle Medallists

GOLD Hungary 26.000

SILVER Bulgaria 24.300

BRONZE Israel 22.200

Bulgaria thrive in junior outings

Competition had already seen typically high-end performances from the likes of Stiliana Nikolova, who top scored on three of four apparatuses over the two days previous. And there was more individual action to enjoy, this time in the junior competition.

There too it was a Bulgarian masterclass, with the nation performing at the top across three of the four apparatus. Magdalena Valkova was at the heart of things, with the top scores with the ball and ribbon, while Anastasia Kaleva did the same with clubs. With the hoop, Georgia’s Nita Jamagidze finished more than 1.000 ahead of the competition, 24.899 the top.

It all meant that in the individual juniors, the hosts were atop the podium in the team final, just as they were two weeks earlier in Baku.

Junior Team Medallists

GOLD Bulgaria 103.248

SILVER Israel 97.897

BRONZE Hungary 94.730

Follow Sunday’s finale

Sunday promises to be huge. While we have not only the individual finals for juniors in both individual and groups, the main event comes right at the end of competition in the form of the individual cross battles.

16 gymnasts are set to face off in it, with Nikolova and Dara Stoyanova both hoping to send the local crowd home happy. Budapest 2024 junior sensation Amalia Lica will be hoping to progress towards the final stages, while there are places also for the likes of Vera Tugolukova, Meital Maayan Sumkin and Lily Ramonxato.

You can watch the action as it happens by visiting gymtv.online, while as ever all the results will be brought to you on results.smartscoring.com.