(MENAFN- The Peninsula) With less than four weeks to go for the FINA/Mastbank Swimming World Cup 2014, the excitement is mounting as Doha prepares to host the world's best swimmers from August 27 to 28.
The showpiece swimming event will see around 200 of the world's best swimmers take to the water for two days of intense action in front of fans at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.
The first in the series of seven action-packed FINA World Cup meets, the Doha edition marks the start of the competitive swimming season and gives the likes of swimming superstars Chad Le Clos and last year's overall FINA World Cup winner Katinka Hosszú the chance to test their abilities in the water after the off season.
Swimming fans and those new to the sport can get their tickets at Virgin Megastores from August 8.
No stranger to Qatar, Le Clos finished first at the FINA World Cup 2013 ¬ Doha in October of last year and should he confirm his place at the World Cup in 2014, he will certainly be one to watch.
His impressive performances in 2013 saw him take three gold and two silver medals in Doha and come close to beating his own world record in the 200m butterfly.
Three-time Olympian Katinka Hosszú is another name swimming fans will be eager to see return to Doha for this year's World Cup.
She has an impressive history at the FINA World Cup and has set world records in the 100m individual medley, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, broken the 200m record twice and the 100m record three times during the 2013 series alone.
Widely heralded as the greatest swimmer from the MENA region, three-time Olympic medalist Oussama Mellouli has taken up the role of official ambassador for the FINA Swimming World Cup - Doha as well as the Doha 12th FINA World Swimming Championships in December.
"I'm really looking forward to returning to Qatar this year. Doha is hosting a great competition. Being back in Doha, I will be able to share my passion for the sport that is close to my heart. I also hope the support from the crowd will help me perform to my best again this year."
Khaleel Al Jabir, Qatar Swimming Association President, said: "The excitement in Doha is mounting as we near the FINA /Mastbank Swimming World Cup. We can expect to see some fantastic performances from the fastest athletes in the pool as they look to test themselves against each other after the off season. This is an important milestone for Qatar in 2014 as the Swimming World Cup marks the beginning of a spectacular year of swimming action for our capital."
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