LONDON – Neta Rivkin’s hopes of reaching the rhythmic gymnastics individual
all-around final suffered a blow on Thursday after she dropped the ball in the
first day of qualification in London, ending the first two rotations in 14th
place overall.
Rivkin was in seventh place after an impressive display in
the hoop, but lost control of the ball early in her second routine and will
enter day two of qualification in 14th with a total score of 53.650.
The
21-year-old will perform with the clubs and ribbon on Friday and still believes
in her chances of moving into the top 10 and progressing to Saturday’s
final.
“I made a silly mistake and I hope to make amends for it,” said
Rivkin, who ended the Beijing Games in 14th place overall.
“I need to
keep my composure better on Friday and perform well to progress to the final. I
was far less nervous than in Beijing, but this is still the
Olympics.”
The rhythmic gymnastics Israel team of Polina Zakaluzny,
Viktoriya Koshel, Noa Palatchy, Moran Buzovski and Marina Shults is well placed
to advance to the group final after ending the first day of qualification in
eighth place with a score of 26.500.
Israel made no mistakes in its five
balls routine and will perform using three ribbons and two hoops on Friday,
looking to hold maintain a place in the top eight to progress to the
final.
All six members of the current team were not part of the side
which finished in sixth place at the Beijing Games, but will be aiming to repeat
their predecessors’ achievement.
“We are pleased with today’s showing as
on Friday we will be performing our stronger routine,” team captain Buzovski
said.