(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Organisers of the two-day FINA Mastbank World Cup Doha 2014 starting tomorrow have confirmed that some of the world's leading female swimmers including internationally renowned stars Katinka Hosszu (Hungary), Mireia Belmonte (Spain) and Marieke D'Cruz (Australia) will be in Qatar to compete at the mega event.
Doha marks the first of seven highly anticipated meets for the FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup 2014 with a number of female champions announced to join a host of Olympians, World Champions and world record holders already confirmed in the line-up including men's Olympic champion Chad Le Clos, three-time Olympic medalist Oussama Mellouli and four-time Olympian from South Africa, Roland Schoeman.
The addition of Hosszu 'the Iron Lady' to the impressive entry list is welcomed news for all fans who can witness the excitement of the meet with open admission across two days action at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.
Hosszu, the reigning World Cup Champion has continued her dominant form in 2014 following a remarkable 2013 World Cup in which she set six world records, winning 32 events and the overall title by a stunning 537 points.
Known as one of the fittest swimmers in history with world-class freestyle times from 200m to 800m, the 25 year old Hungarian will arrive in Doha direct from a successful showing in the 32nd European Championships in Berlin, were she took Gold in the 400m and 200m Individual medley and set two championship records in the process.
Speaking ahead of the FINA Mastbank World Cup 2014 opening meet in Doha, Katinka Hosszu said:
"I'm really looking forward to the opening of the series in Doha, the facilities are world-class and it's a perfect place to start the World Cup," she said.
"I've carried the momentum from 2013 into 2014 and feel good about the series ahead. I feel fit and healthy but swimming is as much a mental sport as physical so a strong performance in Qatar for the opening of the World Cup will give me the opportunity to draw upon that experience when we return in December for the FINA World Championships (25m)."
Joining Hosszu in Doha and one of her closet challengers for the title of World Cup Champion is Spain's towering all-rounder Mireia Belmonte.
A holder of world records, World Championship podiums and European titles from 400 to 1500m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 200 and 400m medley and two-time silver Olympic medalist (200m Butterfly & 800m Freestyle) at the London 2012 Olympics, Belmonte is the complete swimmer.
She also had great success in 2013 including breaking world records in the short course 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle. Like several competitors to swim in Doha, Belmonte is set to increase her grueling multi-event programme during 2014, using the FINA Mastbank World Cup 2014 series as a transitional period aimed at securing gold in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Belmonte said: "The FINA Mastbank World Cup series always brings together the best swimmers in the world so the competition is always tough. But that's what everyone competing wants. We all swim to win and the opening meet in Doha will be an important gauge to see who is strongest at this part of the season."
Fans will get a chance to witness up to 140 elite athletes from 36 countries in the meet including experienced campaigner Australia's Marieke D'Cruz, the former world record holder in the 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke. D'Cruz won the overall Swimming World Cup title in 2008 and is a short course specialist, having won two silvers in the 2012 short course world championships.
Delighted at the contingent of female stars set to compete at the free-to-attend FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup, Khaleel Al Jabir, President, Qatar Swimming Association said:
"The swimming world will descend upon Doha in 2014 as we have the privilege of hosting the first World Cup meet and the FINA World Swimming Championships," he said.
"It is a very special time for for Qatar. To have an international entry list of this quality is extremely pleasing. Qatar is ready to welcome the leading swimmers and host an exceptional World Cup for all athletes, fans and officials."
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