Sofia — China claimed the gold medal in the group five balls event at the opening leg of the 2026 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series, as Chongqing athlete Ding Xinyi and her teammates delivered an outstanding performance in Sofia.

China’s rhythmic gymnastics team wins gold in the group five balls event at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia. (Video screenshot)

China fielded a full-strength roster. Wang Lanjing, Ding Xinyi, Pu Yanzhu, Liu Miaoting, Zhang Xinyi and Zhao Wanzhu competed in the group events, while Wang Zilu and Wang Qi took part in the individual competitions.

The 2026 cycle introduced changes to the group program. The group all-around now consists of five balls and three hoops plus two clubs, both of which are confirmed events for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

China placed fourth in the group all-around final with a total score of 53.150 after some errors. The team rebounded in the apparatus final, where Wang Lanjing, Ding Xinyi, Pu Yanzhu, Zhang Xinyi and Zhao Wanzhu performed a routine inspired by Song Dynasty poet Li Qingzhao. Their score of 27.250 points secured the gold medal by a margin of 0.05 points.

According to the competition schedule, the 2026 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series consists of four events: Sofia, Tashkent, Baku, and Milan. Under revised rules introduced by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), results from World Cup events in 2026 and 2027 will contribute to Olympic qualification rankings. Teams and athletes count their best four results, with the top-ranked team in the group all-around and the top two athletes in the individual all-around earning places at the 2028 Olympics.

Sun Dan, head coach of China’s group team, said the change in event formats required athletes to adapt to new apparatus and choreograph new routines combining Chinese and Western elements. She noted that the competition intensity has increased significantly, as World Cup events now directly influence Olympic qualification.

Ding Xinyi, a rhythmic gymnast from Chongqing. (File photo)

Ding, born in August 2004 in Shapingba District, Chongqing, began training in rhythmic gymnastics at age five. She joined Chongqing’s elite team in 2014 and was selected for China’s national team in early 2022. Since then, she has competed in major international events, including World Cup competitions, World Championships and Asian Championships.

Ding was also part of the Chinese team that won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at the Paris Games on Aug. 10, 2024. Alongside Guo Qiqi, Hao Ting, Huang Zhangjiayang and Wang Lanjing, the team scored 69.800 points in the group all-around final, ending four decades of European dominance in the event.

China’s victory in Sofia signals both continuity and rising pressure, as the race for Olympic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games intensifies.