14th Taishan Artistic Gymnastics World Cup at Aspire from today

Tribune News Network DOHA The stage is set for the 14th Taishan Artistic Gymnastics World Cup that starts with the qualifiers at the Aspire Dome from Wedne...

Tribune News NetworkDOHAThe stage is set for the 14th Taishan Artistic Gymnastics World Cup that starts with the qualifiers at the Aspire Dome from Wednesday. A total 30 countries have registered for this year’s event which will feature 77 men (MAG) and 31 women (WAG) gymnasts. After the 2-day MAG and WAG qualifiers, the finals will be held on March 4 and 5. Like last year, the high-profile competition will be held without fans due to the strict Covid19 protocols in place. “Implementing a comprehensive medical and security protocol providing the safeguards required to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in the competition is one of our prime aims,” said LOC chairman Ali Al Hitmi, who is also the Qatar Gymnastics Federation President and a FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) First Vice-President. Like every year, the familiar venue of the Doha edition -- Aspire Dome -- has been decked up to welcome the world’s top gymnasts. “We are thankful to the Aspire Academy and Aspire Zone for their support. We also thank the Qatar Olympic Committee and Ministry of Public Health for approving the competition,” added Al Hitmi. Olympic silver medallist Srbic top attraction Croatia’s Olympic Horizontal Bar silver medallist Tin Srbic will be one of the top stars in Doha, which has been hosting the competition since 2008. At last week’s season-opening Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Cottbus (Germany), Srbic finished second. The Doha event will be the next step towards the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “My hopes for the Doha World Cup are not huge,” said the 25-year-old. “I just want to keep doing my new routine in competitions. I can get my start value up in the next two years.” Qatar to field four gymnasts Hosts Qatar will be fielding three men Abdullah Al Harith, Ahmed Al Dayani and Rakan Al Harith and one women gymnast Duha Al Habshi. Among the most popular and familiar faces include Uzbekistan’s seven-time Olympian Oksana Chusovitina. The 46-year-old Uzbek will once again compete against gymnasts who were not even born when she made her Olympic debut at the 1992 Games. Schedule: March 2 & 3: MAG, WAG Qualifiers; March 4 & 5: Finals.