Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali al-Hitmi.The 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup will be held from March 21 to 24 in Doha, with 40 countries participating in the annual championship, the organisers said yesterday. Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President and chairman of the organising committee Ali al-Hitmi said that the preparations are underway and all working committees are currently finalising the details to stage the championship at the Aspire Dome.The four-day event will feature some of world’s top names,including reigning all-around Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan. Uchimura has won six world all-around titles and the last two Olympic all-around titles, the longest streak of dominance in gymnastics history.The Doha leg of FIG Individual Apparatus World Cup for men and women is celebrating its 11th edition this year. With unstinted support from the Qatar Olympic Committee, the QGF is leaving no stone unturned in making the event a truly world class one.The al-Hitmi thanked the FIG for reposing its faith in Doha and lauded the great support provided by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, the president of the Qatar Olympic Committee. “It’s a great a moment to organise the 11th edition of the Gymnastics World Cup in Qatar. This one particular event had helped us win the bid for this year’s FIG World Championships. I like to thank the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and QOC President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani for their support to host the competitions,” said al-Hitmi.The QGF President said that this year’s edition of the World Cup will be a dress rehearsal from the organisational point of view for the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships scheduled for to be held this October in Doha. The QGF’s decade-long experience and excellent infrastructure at the Aspire Dome were important factors that earned them the right in 2013 to host the FIG Artistic World Championships. “This year’s competition will be a test event for the Worlds in October and we plan to have a gala competition,” added al-Hitmi.While gymnastics continue to be a low-profile sport, the competition has earned the reputation as one of the best in the world, he said. He pointed out that two players of the Qatari national team – Jana Kiki and Ahmed Nabil – will participate in the event, expressing hope that they will achieve good results to reflect the extent of the development of gymnastics in Qatar.The qualifications will be held on first two days of the championship, with eight best gymnasts making it to the finals and will strive for medals on the last two days of the competition.