Russian Gymnasts Shine on Opening Day at Aspire Dome
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SPORT Friday 26 October 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 El Arabi brace Al Attiyah eyes seals 4-1 win 14th MERC title for Al Duhail in Kuwait Doha Worlds kick off with impressive ceremony THE PENINSULA we aim to forge a path for future athletes, inspire new gymnasts DOHA: The 48th edition of FIG and grow this sport in Qatar.” Artistic Gymnastics World Cham- Al Hitmi also thanked the pionships Doha 2018, the first people of Qatar, the members of such event to be staged in the the Organising Committee and the Middle East, was launched volunteers for their efforts and following an impressive opening commitment to the ceremony at the magnificent championship. Aspire Dome yesterday. Qatar’s female gymnast, On the occasion, the President 16-year-old Jana Al Kiki then took of Qatar Gymnastics Federation an oath on behalf of the athletes and Executive Director of the as did coach David Kikuchi of Organising Committee Ali Al Hitmi Canada and judge Han Yoon-Soo thanked The Amir H H Sheikh of South Korea. FROM LEFT: The Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Committee, Jassim Al Buainain, International Gymnastics Federation President, Morinari Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for A Chinese acrobatic show Watanabe, Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Dr. Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari and President of Qatar Gymnastics Federation his guidance, and interest in sport, entertained the audience which, he said, is an integral part and Executive Director of the Organising Committee Ali Al Hitmi watch the opening ceremony of the 48th edition of FIG Artistic Gymnastics attending the opening of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. World Championships Doha 2018 at the Aspire Dome yesterday. RIGHT: Qatari gymnast Jana Al Kiki taking an oath on behalf of the athletes. ceremony. The opening was attended by Soon, gymnastics took over several distinguished guests and The championship was offi- Federation has made a wonderful gymnasts and officials from reach and encouraging even more with men’s sub-division qualifiers. included Dr. Thani Abdulrahman cially declared open by Interna- garden in the middle of the desert. various countries of the world and Qatari residents to become The artistic gymnastics worlds is Al Kuwari, Second Vice-President tional Gymnastics Federation For ten days from today, with the said: “Hosting this prestigious involved, whether participating flagship event of FIG and will see of the Qatar Olympic Committee, President Morinari Watanabe, power of our gymnasts, we’ll see event in Qatar has given us the or being a spectator. over 600 gymnasts from 76 coun- Jassim Al Buainain, Secretary- who was dressed in a thobe – the the beautiful and strong flowers opportunity to take gymnastics to “President Watanabe and FIG tries, including three Team Qatar General of Qatar Olympic Com- traditional Arabic dress - for the (of gymnastics) bloom at the new heights in our country and to family, thank you for the trust that gymnasts, compete over ten days mittee, and Sheikh Saud bin Abdul- occasion, and Ali Al Hitmi. Aspire Dome. I wish all gymnasts drive the passion and engagement you have placed in us. We are so at this edition that is also serving rahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambas- Addressing the audience, good luck.” for the sport amongst our com- grateful for the support and coop- as the first qualification event for sador to Germany, among others. Watanabe said, “Qatar Gymnastics Al Hitmi welcomed the munities; expanding gymnastics eration that you have provided as Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Qatar’s Ahmed Al Dayani in action at the Aspire Dome Top sports events yesterday. PICTURE: SAYED OMAR in Qatar reflect trust: Sheikh Saud THE PENINSULA DOHA: Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany, H E Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who graced the opening of 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 at the Aspire Dome yesterday termed the successful launch of the event as a fruition of hard work and the trust of the international world in Qatar built over the years. “The trust that Qatar has from the Inter- national Gymnastics Federation hasn’t come by chance. It has come with the long expe- rience that they have with Qatar and which has built over the years with its history of sport starting from 1981 when Qatar hosted the Sesame World Cup for football and until now where we are,” said Sheikh Saud while Russian gymnasts shine on speaking to the media soon after official opening of the event. Explaining the confidence which inter- national sports bodies have in Qatar also opening day at Aspire Dome reflects the trust in the people of Qatar. “Over the last decade and a half, Qatar has organised several world championships FAWAD HUSSAIN after a consistent after collecting 14.400 points. in various sports and now we have the gym- THE PENINSULA performance. Qatar’s Al Dayani posts Croatia’s Srbic Tin (14.300) nastics Doha Worlds. Next year we will be After the opening day, and Artur (14.166) finished on hosting the IAAF World Championships for DOHA: Seeking an end to they have a lead of over 13 the following positions athletics and then we have the 2022 FIFA their medal drought in the points over the Netherlands respectable scores respectively. World Cup Qatar coming up, and we have prestigious competition, after marking 258.402, with “I hoped to score a little many more after that. So this shows and Team Russia yesterday got the Dutchmen finishing the THE PENINSULA bit better. For the team I think explains the trust international sporting off to a flying start as the 48th qualification on 245.663 it’s a great score. For the final bodies have in Qatar and what we can edition of Artistic Gymnastics points. Switzerland (245.186) DOHA: Qatar’s promising gymnast Ahmed Al Dayani marked I don’t know if it’s enough,” deliver,” he explained. World Championships Doha and Ukraine (243.651) respectable scores in the men’s qualification and accumulated a Zonderland said after topping Sheikh Saud said the FIG was confident 2018 kicked off at the Aspire occupy the next positions total of 72.632 in the Men’s All-Round competition. in the qualification on of Doha Worlds’ success well in advance. “In Dome. respectively in Team He took part in all the six disciplines with his top score coming opening day. gymnastics, we have been hosting the Word On the first day of quali- qualification. in Vault in which he earned 13.766 points. The Qatari gymnast also “I think it should be but Cup series over the years and the FIG now fication round for men’s Meanwhile, Russia’s marked 12.333 points in Parallel Bars. I’m not confident yet. We’ll knows the people behind the events here in events which offer eight Nagornyy Nikita ended the Al Dayani’s compatriot Mosa claimed a total of 59.966 points and have to see what the other Qatar very closely. They were confident that titles, Russian gymnasts opening day as leader in did well in vault for 13.066 points. guys will do. It might be the first gymnastics world championships of hogged the limelight by dom- Men’s All-Round event The men’s qualification round continues today with Japan, Great enough but there are so many the Middle East in Qatar would be a success inating Team qualification after accumulating 87.098, Britain and China set to compete along with other sides at Aspire guys who also able to score much before the start of the event in Doha,” round, and were also followed by compatriots Dome where a packed hall is expected. this,” he said. he said. impressive in the individual Dalaloyan Artur (84.572) Kazakhstan’s Kurbanov He credited Qatar’s growth as the capital events. and Belyavskiy David Nariman (14.466) was leading for major sports events to the vision of Qatari gymnasts Ahmed (83.332). However, his team-mate who also played a key role in the Men’s Pommel Horse Qatar’s leaders and their belief in sports Al Dayani and Mosa Ahmed But the Rio Olympic Nikolai Kuksenkov was for Russia yesterday, topped while Ukraine’s Radivilov being an investment for future generations also received applause for medalist Nikita was not fully happy with the start. the opening day’s Men’s Floor Igor (14.733) scored the of the nation. their commendable perform- convinced with overall per- “The team did good. We with 14.833 points followed maximum points in Men’s “Our passion and love for sport has ances by a good number of formance despite a suc- started very good on vault, by Nikita (14.800) and Yulo Rings qualification come from the belief of our leaders that fans at Doha’s iconic venue cessful day for Russia. parallel bars, as well. We Carlos Edriel (14.766) of the yesterday. investment in sports means in investment last night. “On the pommel horse, have two finalists, Artur and Philippines. North Korea’s Ri Se in the future generations of our nation. Russian men, who last we made a few mistakes but David (Belyavskiy), so the Dutchman Zonderland Gwang (14.966) marked the Qatar looks to sport as a vehicle to achieve won a team medal at the they were silly mistakes. competition was very good,” Epke, the 2012 London highest score in Men’s Vault the vision of His Highness The Amir Sheikh World Artistic Gymnastics Pommel horse is an event he said. Olympic gold medalist lived while Ukraine’s Verniaiev Tamim bin Hamad al Thani as Qatar’s Championships back in where we should be getting Four-time European up to his top billing by leading Oleg (15.458) was ahead in National Vision for 2030.” 2006, were leading the event a lot of points,” he said.