Five months after acting as the perfect host of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the majestic Aspire Dome opened its doors to welcome again the best gymnasts in the world. The occasion is the 12th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup here in Doha, an important step in the gymnasts’ effort to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
A host of stars led by the 2017 Individual All Around World Champion and 2018 silver medalist, China’s Xiao Ruoteng and Unenen Bars World Champion, Nina Derwael of Belgium competed on the first day of qualification on Wednesday (20/3). There was action on men’s Floor, Still Rings, Pommel Horse and on the women’s side Vault and Uneven Bars.
Big names didn’t disappoint
Nina Derwael showed with her performance that it might be difficult for her rivals to threaten her on the final, as she topped the preliminaries with the judges awarding her with a score of 15.033.
A big showdown for the gold medal is expected on the Vault between Maria Paseka (Russia) and Jade Carey (USA), with only a handful of points separating the two gymnasts. Both ladies were absent at the World Championships back in October for different reasons each. Mexico’s Alexa Moreno and the eternally young Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) have also checked their own ticket for the final.
Xiao Ruoteng (China) one of the most complete gymnasts of our time, didn’t avoid small mistakes on his floor routine and earned his place in the final with the second best score of the day (14.533). The top score went to 19-year-old Carlos Yulo (Phillipines), the bronze world medalist on this event, competing for the first time after a chest injury prevented him from participating in the previous World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On Still Rings Marco Lodadio, Italy’s bronze medalist at the World Championships, will be among the finalists alongside the Armenian duo of Vahagn Davtyan and Artur Tovmasyan. China’s Xingyu Lan took charge after the absence of his compatriot Liu Yang and earned first place in the qualification with 15.166. Running for his second consecutive victory is Great Britain’s Courtney Tulloch.
Bronze medalist on the Pommel Horse, Chih Kai Lee (Taipei) is aiming for another victory in this event in the World Cup Series, as does Kohei Kameyama (Japan).
The effort continues for the local gymnasts
The 12th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup provided the perfect opportunity for the members of Team Qatar to compete on home soil again. Newcomer Raslen Saoud and Ahmed Aldyani took part on the Pommel Horse and placed in the 37th and 40th place respectively. Ahmed Mosa was 42nd on the floor.
The results of the first day of Qualification:
MEN
Floor
1.Carlos Yulo (Phillipines) 14.600
2.Xiao Ruoteng (China) 14.533
3.Jonathan Vrolix (Belgium) 14.500
4.Alexander Shatilov (Israel) 14.400
5.Ahmet Onder (Turkey) 14.233
6.Rayderley Zapata (Spain) 14.200
7.Christopher Remkes (Australia) 14.133
8.Emil Soravuo (Finland) 14.100
Pommel Horse
1.Chih Kai Lee (Taipei) 15.166
2.Harutyun Merdinyan (Armenia) 14.966
3.Kohei Kameyama (Japan) 14.916
4.Kaito Imabayashi (Japan) 14.900
5.Saeedreza Keikha (Iran) 14.683
6. Zou Jingyuan (China) 14.558
7.Filip Ude (Croatia) 14.533
8.Stephen Nedoroscik (USA) 14.483
Still Rings
1.Xingyu Lan (China) 15.166
2.Vahagn Davtyan (Armenia) 14.908
3.Artur Tovmasyan (Armenia) 14.866
4.Marco Lodadio (Italy) 14.800
5.Courtney Tulloch (Great Britain) 14.800
6.Samir Ait Said (France) 14.733
7.Ali Zahran (Egypt) 14.600
8.Ibrahim Colak (Turkey) 14.533
WOMEN
Vault
1.Maria Paseka (Russia) 14.850
2.Jade Carey (USA) 14.833
3.Coline Devillard (France) 14.633
4.Alexa Moreno (Mexico) 14.449
5.Marcia Vidiaux (Cuba) 14.449
6.Marina Nekrasova (Azerbaijan) 14.216
7.Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) 14.183
8.Emily Thomas (Great Britain) 13.800
Uneven Bars
1.Nina Derwael (Belgium) 15.033
2.Yilin Fan (China) 14.900
3.Anastasia Iliankova (Russia) 14.633
4.Diana Varinska (Ukraine) 13.966
5.Kim Bui (Germany) 13.900
6.Jonna Adlerteg (Sweden) 13.366
7.Martina Rizzelli (Italy) 13.233
8.Yumika Nakamura (Japan) 13.100
The Qualification competition continues on Thursday (21/3) with gymnasts vying for a spot in the finals of Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar, Vault on the men’s side, women’s Floor and Balance Beam.
