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Gymnastics Preview: Russia favourites to clinch rhythmic gymnastics double

But they will face formidable competition from Italy and Belarus, says Andy Morris.

Russia has been out of the limelight in the artistic gymnastics programme in Beijing, but should come into its own in the rhythmic events starting on August 21.

The Russians won eight of the nine golds at last year's World Championships in Greece, and will start favourites to win both the rhythmic gymnastics golds up for grabs.

So strong are the Russians in rhythmic gymnastics they have left their best performer in the individual all-around event last year - world silver medallist Vera Sessina - out of the team. Olga Kapranova, who won bronze in Greece last year, is joined this time by Evgenia Kanaeva for the individual competition.

Kapranova missed out on selection for the last Olympics but has won a host of medals since then including nine World Championship golds and 15 World Cup titles, the most recent from the individual all-around events in Minsk and Kiev.

Kanaeva arrived in Beijing full of confidence having beaten last year's world champion Anna Bessonova by almost two points at this year's European Championships. The Russian only began her international career three years ago but has already won 27 World Cup titles - including six individual all-around golds this season - and was part of the team that won the all-around gold at last year's World Championships.

Ukrainian Bessonova is absent from the Games, which makes the Russians' task easier this time around. However, the Russian duo will have stiff competition from several of the gymnasts who did well at last year's worlds.

Inna Zhukova of Belarus was only 1.525 away from a medal when she finished fourth in that event, and has more international experience than the two Russians. She was part of the Belarusian team that finished second in both the 2001 and 2007 World Championships in the team all-around competition and was seventh in the individual all-around event in Athens four years ago.

If anyone else can stop the Russians in the individual event it could be Azerbaijan's Aliya Garayeva. She finished fifth in Greece last year as well as helping her country to the team bronze, and she won the rope competition at last year's European Championships.

More of an outsider, but sure to attract interest in Betfair's market, is Aliya Yusupova of Kazakhstan, who finished sixth in last year's World Championships. She just missed out on a medal at the last Olympics in Athens, finishing fourth, and has since won three Asian Championships and a World Cup title.

The group all-around event, which brings the gymnastics programme in Beijing to an end on August 24, sees Russia as very much the team to beat.

Their team has been kept together following their win in the World Championships last year and includes Elena Posevina, who helped them win the Olympic team competition four years ago in Athens.

Russia won the European Championships in Turin earlier this year so will feel confident of winning a rhythmic gymnastics double.

Biggest challengers to the Russians in the group all-around title will be Italy and Belarus, who finished second and third behind them in the World Championships in Greece.

The Belarusians were silver medalists at this year's European Championships, edging Italy into third. The Italians, though, have a more experienced line-up and include several gymnasts who helped them into silver in the group competition four years ago in Athens.

Other teams to watch out for in the group all-around event should be Bulgaria and Spain, who finished fourth and fifth at last year's World Championships.

The Bulgarians were denied a medal by just .200 by the Belarusians, while the Spanish were seventh in the Athens Olympics and finished fourth in two group events at the European Championships earlier this year.