The 9th edition of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup, which will be held from March 24th to 26th at the Aspire Zone, has attracted top ranking gymnasts.
Ali al-Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), said around 111 gymnasts, including 67 males and 44 females from 33 countries will take part in the event. The three-day championship will also see participants from Syria and Iraq. The QGF President added Qatar will be represented by Farah Tariq, Mahmoud al-Saadi and Ahmad al-Dayani.
Among men, China’s Zou Kai will be a star attraction. The 28-year-old gymnast won three gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Four years later in London, he won two more gold medals and one bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games.
He was also part of the Chinese team, that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2006 World Championships and the 2006 Asian Games.
Brazil’s Diego Hypolito, the two-time bronze medallist on Floor Exercise in World Cups in Japan 2011 and China 2014, will be the star attraction.
The list of women athletes is topped by Romanian trio of Catalina Ponor, Larisa Iordache and Diana Bulimar, with all three having competed in Olympics.
Ponor will compete only on beam, slowly easing her way back into her three events after an injury took her out last fall, while Iordache will do all but vault.
Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber, Ilaria K?slin, and Stefanie Siegenthaler will also be seen in action, while Germany is sending two young gymnasts with potential to fill some of the available spots. Most of the gymnasts would want to test their preparations for the Rio Olympics later this year.
Al-Hitmi said he hopes that the Qatari gymnasts will produce some good results, despite the strong challenge that awaits them from the world’s best gymnasts. The QGF organising committee has also invited presidents of some national and regional Gymnastics Federations to attend the event in Doha.
The organising committee of the 9th Artistic Gymnastics Challenge Cup is chaired by the al-Hitmi and includes Abeer al-Boanain the QGF Assistant Secretary as a Tournament Director, Mohammad al-Marakhi, Deputy Tournament Director and Head of Public Relations Committee, Abdulrahman al-Qahtani, Head of Finance and Media Committee, Anis Saoud, Head of Judges Committee, Aysha al-Naimi, Head of Protocol Committee , Abdulrahman al-Muftah, Head of Spectators Committee and Dr Yojan Bokova, Head of Medical Committee.