Three-way tie in floor; Jingyuan, Radivilov shine

In a rare instance, three gymnasts finished on same points for the top spot in the women’s floor event at the FIG Artistic Individual World Cup, which concluded in Doha yesterday.  In a thrilling finale at the Aspire Dome, Belgium’s Axelle Klinckaert, Italy’s Elisa Meneghini and North Korea’s Kim Su Jong each scored 13.333 points. Gold medals were given to all three and shared the top step of the podium, with no silver or bronze medals awarded. Lara Mori of Italy finished fourth with 13.266 points.Meanwhile, World champion Zou Jingyuan and Igor Radivilov picked up their second gold medals of the championship yesterday. Jingyuan of China took his second gold as he followed a pommel horse win on Friday with a success on the parallel bars. The 20-year-old, who had won the title in the same apparatus in the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, last year, collected an impressive 16.200 points.Jingyuan stunned compatriot world all-round champion Xiao Ruoteng, who tallied 15.166 points for a silver medal. Turkey’s Ferhat Arican took bronze with 15.166 points.  “It’s amazing to win this gold. I am very happy with my performance,” a jubilant Jingyuan said after his triumph. “I am very happy with my overall performance in the championship and it will give me a lot of confidence for my next assignments.”   The Chinese sensation made his debut at World Championships last year and he said he was itching to come back to Doha for this year’s edition for the mega event. “Performing well at the World Championships is my main target and I am looking forward to come back here and win more medals on a bigger stage.”     Ukrainian star Radivilov also notched up his second gold of the four-day championship with a win in vault final.The 25-year-old, who became Ukraine’s first medal-winner at the 2012 Olympics after the fall of the mighty Soviet Union, collected 14.599 points for his effort. Radivilov, who won on rings on Friday, edged out Qu Ruiyang of China after a close competition to take the top spot. Ruiyang with 14.566 points took silver. Arican bagged third spot for his second bronze of the day.   Tin Srbic of Croatia was a first-time winner in the horizontal bars. He scored 14.800, ahead of United States’ Marvin Kimble, second in 14.533, and Deng Shudi of China, third in 14.500.Meanwhile, French women dominated the balance beam final with teenager De Jesus dos Santos Melanie collecting the gold with 13.933 points, eclipsing teammate Boyer Marine (13.466 points) who took a silver medal. Uneven bars gold medallist Nina Derwael posted 13.400 for bronze. The World Cup event had been expected to feature a successful return for Japan’s two-time Olympic all-around champion Kohei Uchimura but he ultimately failed to qualify for a single final.Over 150 gymnasts from as many as 39 countries took part in the four-day annual event which was dubbed as the dress rehearsal for World Championships, also to be hosted in Doha in October-November.Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali al-Hitmi hoped his body will deliver one of the best editions of the Worlds. “We are ready to host the World Championships,” he said.“We have been hosting the World Cups since a long time and will leave no stone unturned to make the World Championships a huge success,” he added.     Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov picked up his second gold, by winning vault title.