Zonderland struggles but manages to make the finals

By Sahan Bidappa/Doha Olympic and world horizontal bar champion Epke Jan Zonderland of the Netherlands got off to a shaky start on the opening day of the 7th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup 2014, but he still managed to qualify for the finals in two events.At the Aspire Dome yesterday, the Dutchman didn’t look in his elements, perhaps saving his best for the finals as he finished second in the Horizontal Bars and third in Parallel Bars in the men’s qualification Apparatus finals.Yusuke Saito of Japan topped Zonderland for first place in the Horizontal Bars, aggregating 15.550 points to the Olympic champion’s 15.400. Croatia’s Marijo Moznik finished third, with 15.350.Zonderland, nicknamed the ‘Flying Dutchman’, had won the Olympic gold in London two years ago with a score of 16.533 and followed it with a World Championship title in Antwerp last year. But he was far from his best yesterday.Qatar’s Ahmed al-Dayani put up a good show but had to be content with 20th spot after aggregating 13.750 points. Only the top eight qualify for the finals, to be held today, while three spots are reserved.Coming into the event, Zonderland had said that he wanted to win his first world medal in the Parallel Bars in Doha as he bids to secure qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.And the 27 year-old kept his chances alive as he qualified for the final at third spot yesterday.  He has won the European Championships in the Parallel Bars on two occasions and it will be a good opportunity for him to do one better here.However, Zonderland will have to get the better of Romanian Marius Daniel Berbecar, who topped the qualification stage with a total aggregate of 15.350, .100 points better than Mitja Petkovsek, the two-time world champion from Slovakia.The 2013 World Floor champion Kenzo Shirai of Japan kept his favourite tag intact, finishing comfortably in first place with 15.850 points going into the final. His second-placed compatriot Ryuzo Sejima was .750 points behind, with USA’s Paul Ruggeri coming third with 15.050 points.In the Vault, however, Shirai was fourth with 15.025 points, while Yusuke came third with 15.125 points. Armenia’s Artur Davtyan came first, followed by China’s Qu Ruiyan.Meanwhile, 2012 Olympic Pommel Horse gold medallist Krisztian Berki of Hungray came third in the qualifiers. He tallied 15.300 points, behind Armenia’s Harutyun Merdinyan (15.450) and China’s Wang Bo (15.400).Berki, however, will be at his best in the final, having won the Cottbus World Cup in Germany two weeks ago. He is also considered as one of the best pommel horse competitors of all time by the International Gymnastics Federation.In the women’s section, 2011 World Vault bronze medallist Phi Thi Ha Thanh of Vietnam was not even near her best, finishing a distant 11th. However, she will compete in the final as she has a wild card.Hong Kong’s Wong Angel Ying Hiu came first with 14.050 points, ahead of Courtney McGregor (13.950) of New Zealand. Slovakia’s Teja Belak was third, also tallying 13.950 points.Two-time Olympic champion Lauren Mitchell of Australia, who is competing for the first time since the 2012 London Games, made a great start to her comeback, finishing third in floor exercise.Mitchell, the 2010 world champion, has been hampered by injuries in the recent past. She tallied 14.300 points. London Olympic medallists Larisa Iordache and Diana Bulimar of Romania finished first and second, with 14.550 and 14.350 points, respectivelyThe Romanian duo had also finished in similar order in the Beam event. Ashley Wei Ning of Singapore came third, while Mitchell missed out on qualification, finishing 15th.1 Ibrahim Colak of Turkey competes in Still Rings on the opening day of the 7th Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup, being held at the Aspire Dome. Colak finished sixth to qualify for the finals.