DOHA: The 9th Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships will get under way with the qualifying rounds here at the Aspire Dome today.
The opening ceremony will take place at 5.50PM local time while the finals will be held on Friday and Saturday respectively
The event being a qualifying event for 2022 FIG World Artistic Championships, a fierce competition is expected between some of the world’s and Asia’s top gymnasts.
A total of 24 teams of five gymnasts for both MAG & WAG besides 40 individual MAG gymnasts from All-Around competitions and 49 for WAG will be eligible to qualify for the Worlds in Liverpool (United Kingdom) from 29 October to 6 November.
The men’s competition include Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar categories while the women gymnasts will compete in Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam and Floor categories.
Qatar Gymnastics Federation president Ali Al Hitmi, who is also the chairman of the tournament’s Organizing Committee, said the stage is set to welcome the world’s and Asia’s best gymnasts.
“The competition halls are decked up to welcome the gymnasts,” said Al Hitmi.
We’re thankful to QOC, other stakeholders: Al Hitmi
Al Hitmi thanked the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Asian Gymnastics Union, Aspire Zone Foundation and Aspire Academy for their unstinted support in organizing the Asian competition.
“We are always thankful to QOC. QGF also takes this opportunity to thank the other stakeholders who have contributed immensely,” said Al Hitmi, who is also a First Vice-President at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
QGF Secretary General Abeer Al Buainain hoped that the Asian Championships would be another success story of Qatar in terms of its exceptional organizational capabilities in hosting a top international sports event.
“The event management will be at the highest level. We hope to achieve our goal to reaffirm Qatar’s position in the world as a top-notch hosts of major sports championships,” said Al Buanian, who will be one of the WAG judges during the competition.
On Qatari gymnasts’ chances in the championships, Al Buainain said, “We look forward to achieving the desired results from our gymnasts.”
Qatar will field Rakan Al Harith (MAG) in the competition.
“I’m happy to participate in this championship. It will be an opportunity to compete with the best and gain some valuable experience. I’ll do my best to qualify for the final,” said Al Harith. “I also want to thank QGF and Mr Ali Al Hitmi for their valuable support and encouragement.”
46-year-old Oksana still challenges juniors
Uzbekistan’s 46-year-old Oksana Chusovitina will be one of the star performers among others.
A record eight-time Olympian, the Uzbek legend still has enough firepower to overcome the new generation gymnasts.
She will be competing in her favourite pet event, vault.
In MAG, Kazakhstan’s Milad Karimi, who won silver (floor) and a bronze in (vault) and Iran’s well-known pommel horse expert Saeedreza Keikha will be eyeing for a World Championship berth.
