Yana Kudryavtseva of Russia topped the ribbon qualification standings at the 2015 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships ©Getty Images

Formidable Russian Yana Kudryavtseva maintained her pursuit of a successful ribbon title defence as she topped the leaderboard following the qualification round at the 2015 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart.

The 17-year-old Russian, who has already secured the ball gold medal to add to her ever-growing personal tally, produced an outstanding opening routine, which the judges rewarded handsomely with a score of 9.550 points.

Kudryavtseva, the current all-around world champion and 2015 European ribbon champion, then registered 9.400 in her second attempt to give her a total of 18.950.

The ribbon is one of the teenage sensation’s favoured events and she looks on course to wrestle back the world title from the grasp of compatriot Margarita Mamun, who edged her to gold at last year's Championships in Izmir, Turkey.

Mamun, who benefitted from the absence of team-mate and closest rival Kudryavtseva by taking gold in yesterday’s hoop competition, was second after the ribbon qualification round with a total of 18.625.

The 19-year-old, winner of silver in the all-around event at the inaugural European Games in Baku, scored 9.540 in her first routine but could not quite match that performance second time around as she posted 9.175.

Hoops gold medallist Ganna Rizatdinova of Ukraine leads the club qualification standings
Hoops gold medallist Ganna Rizatdinova of Ukraine leads the club qualification standings ©Getty Images

Fellow Russian Alexandra Soldatova was third on 18.150 with Belarusian Melitina Staniouta fourth on 17.850.

Gwangju 2015 Summer Unversiade champion Ganna Rizatdinova of the Ukraine leads the way in the club qualification by virtue of a combined score of 18.416, with Asian Games gold medallist Son Yeon-jae of South Korea second on 17.933.

Azerbaijan’s Marina Durunda is third after her two attempts scored a total of 17.666.

The event in Stuttgart, which also serves as an Olympic qualifier, is due to continue tomorrow with club and ribbon finals.



Related stories 
September 2015: Unstoppable Kudryavtseva secures ball gold at Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
September 2015: FIG President warns judges as 2015 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships open
August 2015: Fantastic five for Mamun as Russia dominate home Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup
August 2015: FIG World Cup Series to end in Kazan as rhythmic gymnasts look ahead to World Championships
June 2015: Kudryavtseva in unstoppable form with hat-trick of European Games golds on jam-packed final day of gymnastics