By N.D. Prashant
DISPLAYING tremendous agility, strength and clinical finishing, Eleftherios Kosmidis of Greece won the gold in the floor exercise event with 15.850 pts in the first Doha Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series at the Aspire Dome yesterday.
Japan's Makoto Okiguchi too put up a great show and to the naked eye looked a clear winner but the judges ruled the title in favour of the Greek, ranked 25th in the world.
"It's a great win. I'm quite pleased with the result. Hopefully, I can keep up the good work till the Olympics," said Kosmidis after his fine show.
For Okiguchi, the silver was more of a boost before his national selection trials in May for the Beijing Olympics. "The competition back home is stiff. I have enhanced my chances of a place in the Olympic squad but still, the trials will be the key. Now, this show is a clear indication that I'm doing well," said Okiguchi who garnered 15.775pts.
The bronze was bagged by Croatian Markovic Tomislav with 15.500pts.
In the women's vault final, all eyes were on the renowned veteran Oksana Chusovitina of Germany. The former Uzbek gymnast, who switched loyalties for the treatment of her son diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, will be representing her adopted country for the first time at the Beijing Olympics.
The 33-year-old who is presently the world No 1 and a gold medallist for Uzbekistan at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was released by her native country in 2003 but was unable to compete for Germany as per law and hence continued representing Uzbekistan in the world championship till 2005, even as her son underwent treatment.
Yesterday, Chusovitina gave a flawless show to literally walk away with the top honours unchallenged. She accumulated 14.962 pts, while second placed Anna Pavlova of Russia managed 14.712pts. Finishing third was China's Linlin Deng with 14.487pts.
"It's a great start to the season. I couldn't have asked for anything more from here. My aim is to win a medal for Germany at the Olympics," said Chusovitina, the double gold and double silver medallist at the Busan Asian Games.
However, Chusovitina with all her experience is well aware that the Chinese would be a hard nut to crack at home in the Games.
"There has always been a keen rivalry between me and the Chinese girls and they will really test me. I have kept myself in better shape so far and will keep up the good show," asserted Chusovitina.
Coach Shanna Poljakova too was impressed with her performance but stressed that Olympics were a different arena altogether.
"She has done well here and we are keen to get good in the remaining tournaments in the run up to the Games. However, at the Olympics more than anything, it will be a test of nerves. Chusovitina has been in that situation four times so I'm confident that she will give her best," said Poljakova.
Prashanth Sellathurai, an Australian gymnast of Sri Lankan origin, too, did not disappoint his adopted country.
Sellathurai, whose parents migrated to Australia in 1983, came up with an eye catching performance in the pommel horse apparatus.
He walked away with the title scoring 16.075pts, stunning a field of world's top gymnasts.
Finishing second was Chinese stalwart, Zhang Hongtao (15.950pts), while Daniel Keatings of Germany settled for the third place with 15.650pts.
World No 1 Krisztian Berki of Hungary (15.600pts) and the reputed Robert Seligman of Croatia (15.475pts) had to be content with the fourth and seventh places, respectively.
"I have not qualified for the Olympics in both the individual as well as the team event. However, this result against the best in business will do wonders for me in future tournaments. This has been my best show till now and I'm looking forward to improve from here on," said a visibly pleased Sellathurai.
In the men's ring final, Yuri Van Gelder of Netherlands put up a repeat performance of his qualifying round to win with ease, pocketing 16.650pts.
Irodotos Georgallas of Cyprus claimed second spot with 16.250pts and Russia's Alexander Balandin settled for the third spot with 16.125pts. |
