(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Doha leg of the FINA World Cup has always attracted the best in business and this year it's no different. However, with the two-day event also doubling up as a qualifier for the Rio Olympics, to be held next year, the thrill quotient promises to be much more at the Hamad Aquatic Center today and tomorrow.
An array of talent, including 2014 World Cup overall champions and FINA's male and female Athletes of the Year, Chad Le Clos and Katinka Hosszu, and a strong troop from Great Britain, Italy and France, have descended in Doha.
South Africa's Le Clos is returning to the World Cup meets after skipping the Asia legs. The 200-metre Olympic butterfly champion is not likely to earn enough points to overtake Cameron Van Der Burgh and repeat as the men's World Cup overall champion, but he could keep his fellow South African from winning the Middle East cluster.
Le Clos has entered in four events, with an eye on sweeping the butterfly races. A real crowd favourite in Doha, Le Clos said: "Doha for me is a very lucky pool. Last year was a fantastic year for me, I received the FINA Athlete of the Year award right here in Doha, and I also became the first man to do the fly triple, so I just want to thank everybody here for your support.
"One of the reasons I always come back here is because it's always the best competition. I'm not sure how fast I can go but I'm here to compete against the best," the 23-year-old added.
Le Clos, who will return to Doha to train at Aspire for the Olympics after the conclusion of the World Cup series in Dubai next week, said he was unlikely to set fast times as he is currently through a heavy training period.
"I am training really hard in this period and I will be happy with whatever it comes. Fast times are not impossible but they are not likely either. This season my mind is focused on the Olympic Games, next year in Rio (and on the duels with Michael Phelps)," he said.
Australian Mitch Larkin, the top swimmer at the Tokyo stop of the World Cup last week, with world-leading times in the 100 and 200 backstrokes, returns to try and improve on his history-making swims. David Plummer, the man who beat Larkin in the 50 back in Tokyo, returns for a rematch in the sprint events. Liam Tancock, the world record holder in the 50 back, joins the World Cup tour along with a strong group from Great Britain.
Two members of the historic Great Britain 800m freestyle relay squad that claimed gold in Kazan World Championship, James Guy and Robbie Renwick are making the trip and are both scheduled to compete in the 200m freestyle, with Guy also taking on the 400m freestyle and Renwick in the 100m freestyle mix.
However, it's the return of Frenchman
Yannick Agnel will be the one to watch out for. Olympic gold medallist Agnel was one of the favorites to win the men's 200m freestyle at the World Championships before pulling out of the competition due to illness.
He hasn't competed since in May, but is on the start lists in the 50m-100m-200m-400m freestyle events in Doha.
In the women's side, 'Iron Lady' Hosszu, the current World Cup point leader is listed with her typical monstrous schedule of 16 events, which she may or may not dwindle down the day of the meet. In Tokyo, she cut her planned schedule by two events. Hosszu made waves in Doha last year at both the World Cup and World Swimming Championships (25m), taking eight medals in Qatar alone in 2014.
"I will swim many races and will give my best, as always, but do not expect any world record here this time," the Hungarian said.
"I love to come back to Doha. I believe I have broken seven world records in this pool, so it's one of my favourite places to race for sure. I'm excited this year, it's going to be long course competition so it will be a little bit different this year, and I'm excited to race here tomorrow. I feel ready to race. I will be competing in a lot of events and I will try the best I can," the 26-year-old added
Australian Emily Seebohm, the 100m and 200m backstroke World Champion, will also look to turn up the heat, looking for a cluster win in the Middle East and secure her No. 2 ranking in the overall standings behind Hosszu. The ever-consistent Seebohm will look to continue her sub-59 100 backstroke streak, while also seeking to maintain dominance in the 200 backstroke distance as well.
On the freestyle front, two head-to-head battles between distance aces Lauren Boyle of New Zealand and Jaz Carlin of Britain is the one to watch out for. Both women are set to compete in the 400m and 800m freestyle and are seeded 1-2 in each event.
Italys world-record holder Federica Pellegrini steps into the World Cup racing fray for the first time this season, setting herself up for a big payday, particularly in the 200 freestyle.
The tickets for the event are available at Virgin Megastores and online from just QAR 10.
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