Italy's Sofia Raffaeli took the hoop lead with 33.000 points at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku ©Getty Images

The penultimate Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup event of the year got underway with Italian Sofia Raffaeli and Olympic athlete Boryana Kaleyn of Bulgaria leading the standings of the first round of individual hoop and ball qualifications.

Raffaeli took the lead at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku after finishing with a total score of 33.000 in the hoop segment. 

Kaleyn scored 32.650 in the hoop followed by Arzu Jalilova of host nation Azerbaijan with a score of 32.050. 

Jalilova's compatriot Zohra Aghamirova finished fourth with 31.650 on home soil. 

In the ball segment, Kaleyn leads the standings after attaining the best result of 33.300. 

She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the rhythmic individual all-around. 

Born in Sofia, Kaleyn is also the 2021 European all-around silver medallist and the 2018 world team silver medallist. 

Italy's Milena Baldassarri was the second best in the ball category with a total score of 32.250. 

Baldassarri became the first Italian individual to take silver medal at the World Championships in 2018. 

The 20-year-old also managed to compete at Tokyo 2020 in individual all-around. 

Jalilova sits in third with 31.000 points while Raffaeli could not manage to stay on the top and ended the day fourth on 30.600. 

Boryana Kaleyn, who currently leads the standings in the ball segment, is a three-time Bulgarian National Champion ©Getty Images
Boryana Kaleyn, who currently leads the standings in the ball segment, is a three-time Bulgarian National Champion ©Getty Images

Meanwhile, the five hoops group qualifications saw Italy leading the standings with a score of 33.250, with host nation Azerbaijan second with 33.050 and Israel third with 32.750 to complete the podium, while Japan sits in fourth with 30.200. 

Club and ribbons qualifiers are due to be held tomorrow, while the finals in all four disciplines are scheduled for Sunday (April 24). 

Pesaro in Italy is set to hold the final Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup competition of the year from June 3 to 5.