DOHA: Former world champion Carlos Yulo of the Philippines impressed on the men’s Vault qualifiers at the 15th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup here on Thursday.
The MAG (Floor, Pommel Horse and Still Rings) and WAG (Vault and Uneven Bars) finals will be held tomorrow (Friday) from 4pm.
The 23-year-old Filipino, who qualified for the Floor Exercise on Wednesday, tallied 14.800 to top the chart in Vault.
After his unimpressive start last week in the World Cup Series in Cottbus, Germany, where he could win just a bronze on the Parallel Bars, Yulo seemed to have found his lost touch and confidence in the Qatari capital.
Reigning men’s world champion Armenia’s Artur Davtyan also qualified for the finals. The 30-year-old, who won the gold last week at the Cottbus edition, was confidence personified in his execution and landing (14.766)
With Yulo in shimmering form, it remains to be seen how Davtyan soaks up the pressure in the final.
Yulo also qualified for the Parallel Bars along with Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, gold medallist in Cottbus, Turkey’s Ferhat Arican, Dilan Jimenez Giraldo (COL) and Koki Maeda (JPN).
China’s reigning Olympic champion Liu Yang, a firm favourite to win the men’s Rings, was ahead of his nearest rivals.
The 28-year-old tallied 15.333 ahead of Turkey’s reigning world champion Adem Asil (14.900).
Iran’s Mahdi Ahmed Kohani, who came third in Cottbus, was fifth on the qualification chart.
Romania’s Sabrina shines
After qualifying for the women’s vault final on Wednesday, Romania’s Sabrina Maneca-Voinea qualified for two more apparatus finals.
The 15-year-old topped the women’s floor exercise chart (13.266) and came fifth on the Balance Beam qualifier.
Sabrina, coached by her mother and former Olympic gymnast Camelia Voinea, scored 5.5 and 7.766 points in Difficulty and Execution.
Bronze medallist at last year’s European Junior Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the youngster will look forward to win the finals.
Uzbekistan’s Dildora Aripova, Chiaki Hatakeda (JPN), Ruby Stacey (GBR), Nazanin Teymurova (AZE), Ruby Pass (AUS), Elina Gravin (SWE) and Breanna Scott (AUS) also made it to Floor Exercise final.
