BELAIR, Luxembourg, Dec. 23, 2018 – Ciel Arzandyan of Van Nuys, California/Rhythmic Academy of Los Angeles, won the bronze medal in the junior ball and hoop finals at the Luxembourg Cup, held at the Sports Center Complex in Belair, Luxembourg.

Arzandyan was third in the junior ball final, posting a 14.950, and in the hoop final, earning a 14.250. Italy’s Eva Swahili Gherardi had top ball honors at 16.400, just edging out Germany’s Margarita Kolosov with 16.300. For hoop Russia’s Olga Karaseva was the champion at 17.000, followed by Gherardi at 16.300. Esther Kiseleva of Wayne, New Jersey/Liberty Academy, was fifth in clubs (13.750). Gherardi slipped past Karaseva, 16.200 to 16.150, for the clubs crown. Kazakhstan’s Aidana Mamzhan was third (14.300). Kiseleva also tied for eighth with Poland’s Laura Osada (10,200) in the ribbon final. Markevich won the title at 15.200, with Mamzhan in second (15.150) and Kolosov in third (14.700).

In the junior all-around, Kiseleva and Arzandyan placed eighth and ninth, respectively. Kiseleva had a 58.350 total (hoop/13.100, ball/14.400, clubs/14.800, ribbon/11.050). Arzandyan’s all-around score was 51.750 (hoop/14.050, ball, 14.850, clubs/13.150, ribbon/9.700). Russia took the top two spots: Karaseva in first (62.650) and Markevich in second (62.400). Kolosov rounded out the top three (61.500).

In the senior all-around, Elena Shinohara of Suwanee, Ga./Rhythmic Brains, finished in 13th place, posting a 54.850. Her event scores were hoop, 14.350; ball, 14.400; clubs, 12.300; and ribbon, 13.400. Russia’s Anastasiia Susha won the title (64.200). Kazakhstan’s Aidana Sarybay posted a 60.900 for second, with Italy’s Sofia Maffeis on her heels with 60.800 for third.

Shinohara finished fourth in the ball final at 14.250. The Ukraine’s Yulia Tretiak and Sarybay tied for first at 16.750, with Russia’s Ekaterina Lots in second (16.050) and Spain’s Alexandra Moody Sebastian in third (15.750). In the hoop final, Shinohara was seventh (13.950). Susha took the gold (17.750), followed by Moody Sebastian in second (15.900) and Poland’s Natalia Koziol (15.450).