Romania’s Catalina Ponor is seen in action during her beam routine during the 5th FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships in this file picture of March 31, 2012.
DOHA: Arthur Nabarette Zanneti, the London 2012 gold medallist, is keen to hit the ground running when the 6th FIG World Challenge Cup kicks-off at Aspire Academy tomorrow.
The 22-year-old arrived in Doha along with the Brazilian delegation for the three-day artistic gymnastics event.
More than 150 gymnasts from 37 countries will take part in the Doha event.
“My form is not 100 percent because it is the beginning of the year, but I am prepared for this competition,” said Zanneti yesterday.
Zanetti, who won the gold medal on rings exercise at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, is getting a positive vibe ahead of his debut performance in Doha
“It is very clean and it is very beautiful and the training facility is really good,” said the Olympic champion.
The Tunisian and the Iraqi delegations have been running extensive training camps in Doha for the past 10 days to get accustomed to the place before the start of the competition.
Six Qatari gymnasts will join dozens of other athletes for podium training scheduled to be held today.
Tickets for the event can be collected from Landmark, City Center or Aspire, Ali Al Hitmi, President, Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), said yesterday.
“This is your chance to watch International champions competing in Doha,” he said.
Al Himti said there was a unanimous decision to re-brand the event now hugely popular on the international calendar.
“There are International champions competing in this championship so we had to change the name of the event to give it more value,” said Al-Hitmi.
Regarding the value of the event, the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup is now more than just an International competition.
“The tournament is now more important than the previous ones because gymnasts can score points that help them qualify for the Olympics,” said Al Hitmi.
Top Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder is set to return to Doha after a gap of five years to take part in the FIG World Challenge Cup.
Van Gelder, a former world champion on the rings, will join a host of top gymnasts including London Olympic Games star Krisztian Berki of Hungary and Larisa Andreea of Romania at the three-day event to be hosted by QGF from March 27 to 29.
When asked about how the competition will be like for the six Qatari gymnasts who will be participating, Al Hitmi minced no words on what he is expecting from his team.
“Our gymnasts need to train at least six hours a day if they want to be good but they don’t have time for that because they all go to university but we try to adapt their studying with their training but hopefully they will do good,” said Al Hitmi.
The QGF president said Qatar will be represented by four male athletes - Mahmoud Saadi, Nasser Al Hamad, Malik Al Yahri and Ahmed Dayyani and two female gymnasts - Shaden Wohdan and Al Jazi Al Habshi - at the event.
“For the first time, we will stage the floor exercises at this event which is now into its sixth edition,” Mohamed Al Jaber, Secretary General, QGF, said.
Al Hitmi said the Doha leg will be broadcast live by Al Kass Sports Channel with television signals set to be beamed in many countries. THE PENINSULA
