27 Mar 2012
Aspire Zone will continue to support major sporting events in Qatar through its sponsorship of the fifth Artistic Gymnastics FIG Challenge Cup, which will start on March 28 at the Aspire Zone.
With the London Olympics taking place in July, the competition is expected to push the performance level quite high and has attracted the biggest number of gymnasts in its history.
Aspire Zone will support the event by hosting the competition at the Aspire Dome which is managed by Aspire LOGISTICS. Aspetar will be providing sports medicine services and Aspire Academy is well represented with three graduates and one current student competing for Qatar.
The total number of participating gymnasts is 117, including 76 males and 41 females.
The list of athletes from 31 countries is topped by Romania’s Catalina Ponor (three Olympic golds winner), Chinese Zou Kai (three Beijing Olympics golds winner), Deng Linlin (a member of the 2008 Olympics Team gold winning team), Elizabeth Kimberly Tweddle (a three times world champion from England) and Irish Olympian Kieran Behan.
The number of participants in the Doha event has increased as most of the gymnasts want to test their preparations and wish to be in the best shape while entering the London Olympic Games later this year.
In a press conference, Qatar Gymnastic Federation President Ali al Hitmi said: “The events like FIG Challenge Cup are helping the Qatari gymnasts. Our gymnasts have learnt a lot from competing against the world’s best and their rise proves this clearly.
He also mentioned that the Qatari gymnastics has grown by leaps and bounds in a very short period of time. “The unexpected success of Qatar in the Arab games is a clinching proof that the federation is going in the right direction and giving the best possible atmosphere to groom its gymnasts.