(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fawad Hussain / The Peninsula
DOHA: Top gymnasts from around the world are ready to showcase their skills with an eye on glory as the FIG Artistic Individual World Cup begins in Doha today.
The star-studded line-up taking part at state-of-the-art Aspire Dome includes several Olympic and World champions as gymnasts from as many as 40 countries are taking part in the four-day annual championship.
The stellar line-up includes world champion Xiao Ruoteng of China and Japanese legend Kohei Uchimura, also known as ‘King Kohei'. The duo promises thrilling battle in quest of a gold medal.
In addition, world's oldest Olympian, Oksana Chusovitina, 43 of Uzbekistan will also be competing in Doha.
Ferhat Arican, who became the first Turkish male gymnast after 108 years to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will also be seen in action in men's parallel bar competition during the event.
Arican warmed up for the Doha showdown with a bronze medal in men's parallel bar at FIG Artistic World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, last Sunday.
'It's a great feeling to win a medal in the first international competition of the year. I'll be competing in Doha with a lot of confidence after winning a bronze in Baku, Ferhat said ahead of the event.
Ferhat's team-mate Ibrahim Colak also had an impressive outing in Baku, where he won silver medal in rings.
Colak, who won a bronze in rings at the 2015 European Games, will lead his country's challenge in Doha.
'I had a mild discomfort on the knee and a neck injury almost ruled me out, but in the end I could finish second. We have bigger goals as a team this year. We will try our best to win medals, said Ibrahim, who had also competed at 2014 FIG World Championships in Nanning, China.
The Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) has been hosting the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup since 2008 but this year's edition holds utter importance as Doha will also be hosting FIG's showpiece event - FIG World Championships this year from October 25 to November 3.
'This World Cup is very special for us as it will also serve as the test event for World Championships this year, QGF President and Chairman of the Organising Committee Ali Al Hitmi said.
'All the preparations for the event have been completed and we are looking forward to a very successful edition this year, added Al Hitmi.
'We will leave no stone unturned to make it a blockbuster as it will give us huge confidence ahead of World Championships, the QGF President said.
A couple of upcoming gymnasts will also represent the host country in the World Cup. The pair includes Jana Kiki and Ahmed Nabil, who will be looking to impress and give cheers to home fans who are expected to turn out in good numbers.
The first two days will feature qualifying rounds for men's and women's apparatus while finals will be held over the last two days.
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