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Sports / Qatar Sport

Derwael, Carey strike gold in Doha

Published: 23 Mar 2019 - 09:29 am | Last Updated: 28 Dec 2021 - 11:39 am
Gold medallist Jade Carey (centre) poses along with silver medallist Maria Paseka (left) and bronze medallist Coline Devillard after the medals ceremony for women’s vault event, yesterday.

Gold medallist Jade Carey (centre) poses along with silver medallist Maria Paseka (left) and bronze medallist Coline Devillard after the medals ceremony for women’s vault event, yesterday.

Fawad Hussain | The Peninsula

Doha: Nina Derwael and Jade Carey yesterday stole limelight on the first day of finals at FIG ART Individual Apparatus World Cup in Doha, winning gold medals to consolidate their chances of qualifying for Tokyo Olympics.          

Five gold medals were decided at the Aspire Dome yesterday, which saw a full house of fans backing their favourite gymnasts. Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Qatar Gymnastics Federation President, Ali Al Hitmi and Qatar Swimming Association President, Khaleel Al Jabir were among the spectators.  

Belgium’s Derwael, as expected, won gold medal in uneven bars after claiming 15.033 points. It was a typical Derwael performance as she kept things dangerous and doing them comfortably. The gold medal helped the Belgian leapfrog to third position in overall rankings of uneven bars with 60 points.

She is now behind Chinese pair of Lyu Jiaqi (75) and Fan Yilin (65) in race to getting Olympic berth in the discipline. 

Derwael, who will turn 18 on Tuesday, was delighted with her third triumph of her career in Doha. 

“My preparation for this event was not good enough which is why I am very happy to win a gold,” Derwael, who also won a gold at World Championships in Doha last year, said. 

“I had some little injuries that prevented me from doing other competitions. But now I am really happy to be back on the podium. I wasn’t really anxious as I was comfortable out there and I knew I could do it. I just did what I usually do in training,” she said. 

The teenager hailed Doha as one of her favourite venues, saying she will return from the Qatari capital with more good memories. 

“I am really happy to be back here, I have won gold thrice now in Doha. I am going to prepare for the European championship now,” said Derwael.  

“I am very excited about Tokyo Olympics. The Belgian team still needs to qualify as a team so we are going to do try and do that at the World Championship in Stuttgart this year,” she added. 

Yilin (14.933) took the silver medal while Russia’s Anastasiia Iliankova (14.700) secured bronze medal in the event. 

Meanwhile, American star Carey clinched gold to make it a brace of victories in vault within a week.  Carey, who had won both vault and floor gold at the Baku World Cup last week, maintained her top form to complete her hat-trick of gold medals. 

The 18-year-old controlled her landing perfectly to top score with 14.833 points, finishing ahead of Russian Maria Paseka (14.766) and Frenchwoman Coline Devillard (14.549). 

Yesterday’s win boosted Carey’s World Cup series ranking points to 85, putting her first in the vault race for Olympics qualifications.

“I think it was a really good performance”, the ever smiling Carey said. 

“It is cool to be in Doha, after missing last year’s World Championships. I am happy that I made both vaults, especially the first one, because it is the first time I have tried it in competition. I am looking forward to final on the floor”. 

The 43-year-old Oksana Chusovitina finished fifth with 13.866 points. The Uzbek, who has competed in seven Olympic Games, is gunning for her eighth appearance as she looks to book her place at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Nina Derwael celebrates with her gold medal.

Chih-Kai claims gold; heartbreak for China’s Ruoteng

In men’s pommel horse final yesterday, world bronze medallist Lee Chih-Kai of Chinese Taipei pipped former world champion Kohei Kameyama of Japan on basis of superior difficulty scores, after both earned 15.400 points apiece. Kameyama’s countryman Kaito Imabayashi took bronze after tallying 15.333 points.      

China’s Zou Jingyuan, the reigning Asian Games gold medallist, missed out on a medal after he missed his hand placement and came off early on. He also tumbled for a second time to finish seventh 12.866.

However, China also received a gold medal, yesterday when Xingyu Lan emerged as the undisputed winner with 15.100 points. The Armenian duo of Artur Tovmasyan and Vahagn Davtyan were second and third respectively. 

Earlier, Alexander Shatilov of Israel was the first winner of the day, earning first place on the floor with 14.633 points with Spain’s Rayderley Zapata coming on second place with 14.333 points. 

The World Championships bronze medalist, Philippine’s Carlos Yulo was only third (14.266), after his impressive performance in the qualification. 

The Chinese star Xiao Ruoteng disappointed his fans, since he managed only seventh place in the competition after a fall and a couple of mistakes on his programme.

Lee Chih-Kai of Chinese Taipei (centre), Kohei Kameyama (left) of Japan and his compatriot Kaito Imabayashi pose with their medals. 

Derwael, Carey eye brace of gold in Doha  

Today five more finals will be played bringing an end to the four-day event, which is being held for the 12th consecutive year in Doha.  Epke Zonderland will be seen in action on horizontal bar as the Dutch star hopes to repeat his gold medal-winning performance in Doha after his triumph in World Championships last November. 

Derwael will vie for second gold as she will compete in balance beam while Carey will feature in the floor exercise final.

Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali Al Hitmi (centre, front), along with QGF officials poses with medal-winning gymnasts of men’s still rings event.