© Team Photo

INDIANAPOLIS, July 11, 2019 – 2019 U.S. all-around champion Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics, qualified for the hoop and ball finals at the 2019 World University Games, in Naples, Italy. Competition continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. Naples time with the last two rhythmic gymnastics qualification rounds for clubs and ribbon, as well as the all-around final. The competition wraps up Saturday at 7 a.m. ET/1 p.m. Naples time with the event finals. The rhythmic competition will be streamed live on the OlympicChannel.com.

In the last two qualifications, Zeng will begin on clubs and then perform in ribbon. In hoop, Zeng was third in the qualification round with her 19.950. Russia’s Ekaterina Selezneva had the top score (21.400), with Azerbaijan’s Zohra Aghamirova in second (20.200). For ball, Zeng’s 19.100 landed her in fourth place. Selezneva again posted the highest mark (21.300). Korea’s Kim Chaewoon earned a 19.700, followed by Aghamirova’s 19.350.

Over the weekend, Alex Diab of Glen Ellyn, Ill./University of Illinois, competed in the event finals for the floor exercise and still rings. On floor, Diab posted a 13.650, ranking sixth. Russia’s Kirill Prokopev tallied a 14.950 to win the title, with Japan’s Kazuma Kaya and Kakeru Tanigawa in second (14.600) and third (14.550), respectively. For the still rings, Diab was seventh at 14.300. Armenia’s Artur Avetisyan took the title (14.900). Turkey’s Ibrahim Colak and Austria’s Inzenz Johann Hoeck tied for second (14.800). The other champions were pommel horse – Lee Chih-Kai of Chinese Taipei, 15.400; vault – Korea’s Kim Hansol, 14.650; parallel bars – Tangigawa, 14.850; and horizontal bar – Tang Chia-Hung, 14.700.

For information on the World University Games, visit universiade2019napoli.it. Fans can follow the action in Naples in several different ways. The competition will be streamed live at www.fisu.tv. News and results will also be available on the official event website. Additionally, follow FISU’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for up-to-the-minute action, and be sure to catch up on videos on the FISUTV YouTube channel.

Participation in men’s gymnastics at the World University Games is a joint effort between the College Gymnastics Association, USA Gymnastics and the NCAA member institutions. The World University Games is a multisport event held every two years. Participants must be born between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2001; have taken at least one three-credit course towards a degree or diploma within the last year before the games; and the athlete must be “progressing towards a degree.”

Based in Minneapolis, the College Gymnastics Association, a member of USA Gymnastics’ Advisory Council, represents not only the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Coaches in the country, but also the Gymnastics Association of College Teams (GymACT) coaches as well. For more information on these organizations, visit collegegym.org or gymACT.org.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its athlete safety policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.