The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships.

Indian rhythmic gymnast Akshata Shete performs with a rope during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7

Russian rhythmic gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva, the Beijing Olympic champion, performs with a ball during a practice session at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Mie prefecture on September 6, 2009. The championships will be held between September 7-13.



Belarus rhythmic gymnast Melitina Staniouta performs with a rope during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7.



Chinese rhythmic gymnast Li Hongyang performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7



Chinese rhythmic gymnast Yidan Ding performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7



Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Anna Bessonova performs with a rope during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7.



Russian rhythmic gymnast Olga Kapranova performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7.



Russian rhythmic gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva, the Beijing Olympic champion, performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries opened on September 7.



South Korean rhythmic gymnast Lee Kyung-Hwa performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



South Korean rhythmic gymnast Shin Soo-Ji performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.




Malaysian rhythmic gymnast Nur Hidayah Abdul Wahid performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Rhythmic gymnast Irina Risenson of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Malaysian rhythmic gymnast Elaine Koon performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.


Rhythmic gymnast Irina Risenson of Israel performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7



Rhythmic gymnast Neta Rivkin of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.


Rhythmic gymnast Neta Rivkin of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.


Rhythmic gymnast Neta Rivkin of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Rhythmic gymnast Irina Risenson of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Rhythmic gymnast Irina Risenson of Israel performs with a rope during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Rhythmic gymnast Neta Rivkin of Israel performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7



Italian rhythmic gymnast Julieta Cantaluppi performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7



Japanese rhythmic gymnast Mimi Inoue performs with a hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7



Belarus rhythmic gymnast Melitina Staniouta performs with a rope during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 7, 2009. The 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, expected to draw over 150 gymnasts from 50 countries, opened on September 7.



Malaysian rhythmic gymnast Wan Siti Haniza Wan Izahar performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.



Malaysian rhythmic gymnast Wan Siti Haniza Wan Izahar performs with a hoop during a qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Ise, in Japan's Mie prefecture on September 8, 2009.

source : Gettyimages