Fahad Al Mulla (third right), Assistant Secretary-General of Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF) speaking during a press conference on the eve of the Men’s Grand Prix and Women’s World Cup in Doha yesterday. Also see are Khalid Mohammad Al Yazeedi (centre), Secretary-General of QFF and Abdul Salam Issa (third left), representative of Gate Mall and other officials. The event begins from 10am today at Aspire Academy. The finals of the Men’s Grand Prix and the Women’s World Cup, besides the women’s team event will be held at Gate Mall tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday respectively. PICTURE BY: IBRAHIM KUTTY
DOHA: Ruben Limardo Gascon of Venezuela, men’s epee individual winner at the 2012 London Olympic Games, leads a galaxy of stars who will be participating at the 10th Grand Prix, which begins here today.
The 10th Grand Prix for Men will be held along with the sixth World Cup for Women, both epee categories.
The qualifying rounds of the men’s and women’s individual besides the women’s team event will be held at Aspire Academy while the finals of the all the three will be held at Gate Mall tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, informed officials of Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF).
Addressing a press conference here yesterday, officials of QFF said some of the top fencers will be in Doha for the event in both the men’s and women’s section.
“All the top-ranked fencers have confirmed their participation in the event,” said Khalid Mohammad Al Yazeedi, Secretary General of QFF.
“Players taking part in the Grand Prix and World Cup in Doha are eligible for points which will help them in the qualification race for 2016 Rio Games,” added the QFF official.
Heading to Doha to defend his title is 36-year-old Gabor Boczko of Hungary, silver medal winner at the 2004 Olympics Games.
In the women’s section, Xu Anqi of China won the title last year.
The individual winners will pocket a prize money of $10,000 while runners-up will take home $5,000. The winners in team events will bag $5,000 while the second-placed side will be richer by $4,000. The event is open for participants holding an international fencing federation (FIE) licence.
The FIE individual World Cup series consists of three Grands Prix and five World Cups per year.
The entries for Grand Prix competitions are limited to a maximum of eight fencers per country. Only the host nation can field 10 entries.
Meanwhile, Qatar announced a 10-member team for the men’s competition and a 11-member squad for the women’s one.
The men’s team consists of Ali Al Boenain, Ahmad Al Dossari, Mohammed Al Shammari, Hamad Al Shammari, Mohammed Al Dossari, Abdulrahman Al Hashemi, Ebrahim Al Tairi, Abdulla Jemaan, Mohammad Ali Mirzaei and Abdullah Sayyari.
The women’s team comprises of Noora Al Dossari, Ayah Madadi, Abraar Al Attef, Sara Al Emadi, Thkrayat Al Abdulla, Wadha Al Ali, Wadha Al Abdulla, Aisha Al Musalmani, Hanadi Al Yami, Fatima Hammad and Ghada Haroun Hassan. The Peninsula
