Zanetti, Iordache to headline World Challenge Cup

(Left) Qatar Gymnastics Federation president Ali al-Hitmi. (Right) Larisa Iordache of Romania is a regular visitor to Doha and has swept medals in the last two years. In the last year’s event, she won three gold medals in Vault, Beam and Floor Exercise.

By Sports Reporter/DohaLondon Olympics gold medallist Arthur Zanetti of Brazil will be the star attraction at the 8th edition of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup, which will be held from March 25 to 27 at the Aspire Zone in Doha.Zanetti, who is a Ring specialist, is one of many top gymnasts who have confirmed their presence. Zanetti is Latin America’s first Olympic gymnast to win a medal; he also won gold at the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp, and silver last year in Nanning, China. The 2014 worlds bronze medal winner in Floor exercise, Diego Hypolito, will also be seen in action, so will Croatian Moznik Marijo, also a bronze medallist in Horizontal Bar in Nanning.Among women – all eyes will be on Larisa Iordache of Romania. The 18-year-old team bronze winner at the 2012 Olympics is a regular visitor to Doha and has swept medals in the last two years. In the last year’s event, she won three gold medals in Vault, Beam and Floor Exercise. The short lass, who also has two silver medals from the 2014 World Championship, is expected to dominate again. Iordache’s compatriot Diana Bulimar, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist, is the other one to watch out for. The United States’ gymnasts Leyva Danell (Olympic Bronze medalist in All-Around and silver in Parallel Bars at the Worlds) and Dalton Jacob (two bronze medals in team and vault at Worlds) have also confirmed their presence. Qatar’s challenge will be spearheaded by Mahmoud Mohamed al-Saadi and Ahmad Saleh al-Dayani in men’s and Farah Tareq Mahmoud Redha in women’s.Al-Saadi and al-Dayani have travelled to Malaysia for a training camp, while Farah has been working out in Doha.  Organised by the Qatar Gymnastics Federation, the annual event which started in 2008, has attracted 128 gymnasts, including 84 males and 44 females from 34 countries this year.This year’s event will hold more significance, as this will be the first event Qatar will be hosting after it won the bid to conduct the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. The Higher Organizing Committee under the leadership of Ali al-Hitmi, president of Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), has invited a number of the world’s prominent sports figures including presidents of the continental gymnastics unions to attend the championship.Al-Hitmi said the event will be of the highest standard and added that his association is focusing towards hosting the 2018 World Championship, for which the World Challenge Cup will act as a prelude. “It is our pride that we have earned the trust of the International Gymnastics Federation to host such an important event in Qatar. We have the best possible facilities and infrastructure to host any world class event,” said al-Hitmi.“Gymnasts like to come here as we provide them the world class facilities. They appreciate the high quality of event and hospitality, which they experience here,” added al-Hitmi.