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Some of the world’s best gymnasts have descended on Qatar to take part in the FIG World Challenge Cup Artistic Gymnastics to be held here at the Aspire Dome from today. |
In all, 150 gymnasts from 37 countries are taking part in the event with a total prize money of US$50,000.
London Olympics Gold medallists Krisztian Berki of Hungary, Larisa Andreea Iordache of Romanian and Arthur Zanneti of Brazil are some of the star attractions.
Berki is a pommel horse specialist has also been the World Champion in 2010 and 2011. He has also been the European Champion in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
The Hungarian has also won the Universiade 2009 in Belgrade. In 2010 and 2011 he was elected Hungarian Sportsman of the year for his achievements.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics Berki won gold in pommel horse competition with a score of 16.066, exactly the same score as British athlete Louis Smith, but was awarded the gold on a higher execution score.
Iordache has won a bronze medal as part of the Romanian team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also obtained multiple medals at the 2012 European Championships.
Iordache had competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha, Qatar last year and had finished fourth in the uneven bars final with a score of 14.525. The Romanian will be keen to make amends this time round.
The Brazilian star Zanneti was excited to make his debut in Qatar. “My form is not 100 percent because it is the beginning of the year, but I am prepared for this competition,” said Zanneti, the London 2012 gold medalist.
He was very pleased with the facilities at the Aspire and was keen to make the most. “The city is very clean and it is very beautiful and the training facility here is really good. I would like to up a good show here,” said the 22-yr-old.
Another gymnast to watch out for is Australian gymnast Prashanth Sellathurai. A Pommel Horse specialist by trade, Prashanth has taken away from World Championships a silver medal (2006) and a bronze medal (2009), and has been the National Pommel Horse Champion since 2006. He was a valuable member of the history making Men’s gold medal team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and also won the gold medal on Pommel, took the bronze on Parallel Bars and qualified for the Rings final finishing in 6th place.
The tournament is also a qualifying event for the next Olympics and the gymnasts will have the opportunity to accumulating vital points. The winner will bag 30 points, runner-up 25 points and second runner-up will pocket 20 points. There will also be a test event for a floor exercise keeping in mind the European Championships.