World champions all set for FINA Airweave Swimming World Cup
DOHA, October 01, 2017 - Doha is set to play host to another blockbuster leg of the FINA airweave Swimming World Cup 2017, as an array of global superstars have confirmed their participation for the highly-anticipated competition at the Hamad Aquatic Center next week.
Fascinating battles are on the cards in both men's and women events in the October 4 to 5, as several gold medalists from Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the 2017 FINA World Championships, are eying to reign the Doha pool. The swimmers, who will arrive in Doha following the Honk Kong leg (September 30 to October 1), will be targeting to earn maximum points as the competition will reach the mid stage, which promises thrilling competitions during the two-day contest.
The FINA airweave Swimming World Cup 2017 includes eight legs in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. This year, the competition kicked off on August 2 in Moscow and will conclude on November 19 in Singapore. Berlin, Hong Kong, Doha, Beijing, and Tokyo complete the list of host cities for 2017. FINA President Dr Julio C Maglione reposed confidence in Doha to stage another spectacular show. “Doha's presence since 2012 in the World Cup circuit has assuredly reinforced the visibility of this top-notch competition in the Middle East region," he said in a message.
“After the successful staging of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014 in the Qatari capital, Doha, the legacy of swimming has continued in this part of the world," he added.
Fans-favorite Chad Le Clos, the m
ost successful man in the competition's history with 116 gold medals under his belt, will be looking to extend his medals streak in Doha. The 25-year-old, who won the 200m championship in Budapest World Championships earlier this summer, won three gold medals in the 2016 leg in Doha while in 2015 he clinched four gold medals.
But, the South African superstar will not be alone to spearhead the men's competitions as his compatriot Cameron van der Burgh – the gold medalist at FINA World Championships Winsdor 2016 (50m breaststroke), Russia's Vladimir Viktorovich Morozov – Winsdsor 2016 champion at 100m breaststroke are also set to compete in the gala. Russian swimming ace Kirill Prigoda will also be seen in action during the event. Also joining the star-studded in men's events will be Italy's Gabriele Detti, who is expected to excel in Doha after his golden run at this year's World Championships. The 23-year-old displayed a stunning performance in Budapest to clinch 800m freestyle gold. Radosław Kawęcki of Poland – the former world champion will also be joining the top names at the next week's Worlds.
Hungary's 'Iron Lady' - Katinka Hosszu – will lead the star cast in women's events, which will also see Olympic champion and world champion Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden in action. Crowd-puller Hosszu, has a staggering number of 226 gold medals to her name, which makes the top swimmer best in the competition's history. The 28-year-old will be looking to maintain her 200m and 400m Individual Medley dominance along with other events. Sjostrom, 24 will set alight the pool as she will also be targeting maximum number of medals. The Swedish double gold medalist at the FINA World Championships 2017 in Budapest, she had also clinched the 100m butterfly at Rio Games last year.
Triple Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands, Rio gold medalist Rie Kaneto of Japan and Jamaica's star Alia Atkinson, the 2016 world champion are among the other stars to take part in the competition.
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