DOHA: Brazilian ring specialist Arthur Zanetti will be looking to dominate in Doha later this month when he joins more than 125 athletes at the 8th edition of the FIG ART World Challenge Cup.
Zanetti, who won the gold medal on rings exercise at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, will be joined by 28-year-old giant on the floor exercises Diego Hypolito, and scores of other gymnasts at the three-day event to be held from March 24 to 27 at Aspire Academy.
Silver medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games Larisa Iordache will lead the star cast in the women’s floor exercises, Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Ali Al Hitmi said yesterday.
“Most of the gymnasts would want to test their preparations and wish to be in the best shape while entering the World Championships later this year, which is qualifying event for the Rio Olympic Games 2016,” Al Hitmi said while announcing details of the hugely popular event.
“Three years ago we staged the fifth edition just four months before the London Olympic Games and we got to witness a high intensity of competition at Aspire Academy,” Al Hitmi added.
Al Hitmi said Diana Laura Bulimar from Romania, American Jacob Dalton and compatriot Danell Leyva will also feature at the three-day event.
Al Himti said Colombian gymnasts will make their debut at the Doha gymnastics gala.
The total number of participating gymnasts is 128, including 84 males and 44 females, Al Himti confirmed.
Qatar will be represented by Farah Mahmoud, Ahmed Al Dayani and Mahmoud Al Saadi, Al Himti said.
“We have the best possible facilities and infrastructure to host any world class event. We have qualified manpower working professionally. This makes us ambitious to go for bigger events and we are gearing up to host 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships,” the QGF President said.
According to QGF President, gymnasts from the following countries will be taking part in the championship namely Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taipei, Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Doha will be the second stop on the 2015 World Challenge Cup series, details have revealed.
The first event will be held in Cottbus, Germany, from March 19 to 22. The third event will be held from April 3 to 5 in Ljubljana.
THE PENINSULA
