FIG World Cup Series to end in Kazan as rhythmic gymnasts look ahead to World Championships

Russia's Yana Kudryavtseva headlines the field at the FIG World Cup in Kazan ©Volker Minkus/FIG

The 2015 International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup Series is set to reach its conclusion in Kazan this weekend as rhythmic gymnasts continue their preparations for next month’s World Championships.

Headlining the field at the seventh and final stop on the World Cup Series tour, scheduled to begin today in the Russian city before ending on Sunday (August 23), is home favourite Yana Kudryavtseva.

The reigning world champion has already guaranteed herself the World Cup all-around title based on her results at the previous six events and looks set to claim World Cup titles with multiple apparatus along with team mate Margarita Mamun, while Belarus’ Melitina Staniouta and Israel’s Neta Rivkin could also pose a threat.

With two world titles under her belt, 17-year-old Kudryavtseva is the emerging star of the sport and an early frontrunner for the Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro next summer.

In group competition, 2014 world champions Bulgaria join Italy, Israel and perennial powerhouse Russia in the battle for all-around World Cup titles with the five ribbons, and the three clubs and two hoops.

Russia's Margarita Mamun looks set to claim World Cup titles with multiple apparatus ©Getty Images

The 2015 World Cup circuit in rhythmic gymnastics, made up of seven category B events, started in Lisbon in March before moving on to Bucharest and the Italian town of Pesaro in April.

This was followed by a stopover in the Uzbekistani capital of Tashkent in May, after which Budapest and Sofia played host to events earlier this month.

All tournaments featured individual and group competitions with the exception of that in Bucharest, where competition was for individuals only.

The world ranking points collected by the competitors at their best four World Cup events are added together, with the top scorers in each discipline being crowned winners of the overall series in Kazan.

The World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships are due to be held in Stuttgart from September 7 to 13.

The Championships is the first of two qualifying events for Rio 2016 with an Olympic test event, scheduled to take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio from April 16 to 24, also providing direct qualification opportunities.