(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Top gymnasts Diana Bulimar of Romania and Dalton 'Jake' Jacob of the US launch their bids for medals at the World Challenge Cup in Doha today, knowing their 2016 Olympic Games preparations also start in the Qatari capital this week.
Bulimar, 19, famously partnered Catalina Ponor, Larisa Iordache, Sandra Izbasa and Diana Chelaru on way to winning the artistic team bronze at the London Olympic Games in 2012.
Dalton, 23, missed out on a medal along with American team in London but wants to redeem himself with a medal in Brazil next year.
"The only thing is I know that 500 days are remaining to the Rio Games," Bulimar said yesterday. "All the gymnasts are preparing for the Games," she added.
"Yes we are training as a team in the gym," Bulimar said when asked if the quartet would be resuming training together.
"It will be good to compete together again," the diminutive Romanian said. "Hopefully we will compete like we did at London Games," she added.
Bulimar, however, said the week in Doha would be a case of taking things gradually without having to push full throttle from day one.
"I had an injury on my knee and I want to see how well I do after recovering from injury," Bulimar said.
Dalton, who is on his maiden trip to Doha, echoed Bulimar's sentiments.
"We have the Olympics next year so that's obviously is the big one. We were close to winning a medal in London but we had a few issues. I am definitely looking at a lot of redemption," Dalton said two days ago.
"We have the team to do it, to win a medal. We have a lot of work to do. I'd love to finish my career with an Olympic medal. If we can get to the top of the podium, that would be the way to go out," the American added. "That would be the ultimate thing to do," Dalton said. "I expect a great competition in Doha. I had never been here before. That's why we have come a little bit earlier so that we get used to competition arena, the lights and everything else," Dalton said yesterday.
"I don't like to think too much on how I do. I want to do something new.If I can do that, it will be cool," he said with his trademark smile in place.
Brazilian ring specialist Arthur Zanetti will lead the star cast at the eighth FIG ART World Challenge Cup, organisers said.
The three-day gymnastics event - the second leg of a six-stop international series - will also feature Qatar's Farah Mahmoud, Ahmed Al Dayani and Mahmoud Al Saadi, Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Ali Al Hitmi said. Altogether 128 gymnasts, 84 males and 44 females, will participate in the event which will be held at Aspire Academy from March 25-27, Al Hitmi confirmed.
The Qatari capital will be the second stop of the 2015 World Challenge Cup series, he added.
The first event was held in Cottbus, Germany, from March 19 to 22. The third event will be held from April 3 to 5 in Ljubljana.
Zanetti, who won the gold medal in rings exercise at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, will be joined by 28-year-old floor exercises superstar Diego Hypolito.
Dalton's Cuban-born compatriot Danell Leyva yesterday said he could be back at the same venue that will host the 2018 World Championships.
"I don't think three years is a long time for gymnasts," Leyva said. "Who knows what will happen but I would like to give it a try," he added.
If not good form, then Aspire Academy's 'amazing' interiors would attract Leyva to Doha again.
"We can see that in 2018 it's going to be a good venue for the worlds," the American said. "It's beautiful. We get to compete here so it's amazing," he added.
One of three Qataris set to feature at the three-day meet, Farah said: "It was a great experience last year as I got to see the great gymnasts competing here. I hope I can do my best in this competition."
She added: "I have to say I still have nerves. It is normal for anyone to have nerves. It is hard. Last year I competed in one apparatus. This time I will compete in two apparatus."
Farah's compatriot Mahmoud Al Saadi said: "For sure I am nervous because this is my first competition after injury. This is my first competition in more than one year. I was injured last year during the warm-up. I was in the hall but couldn't compete."
Gymnasts from Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taipei, Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam will take part in the competition.
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