FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup A
Osijek (CRO), November 6 - 8, 2009

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, October 30, 2009: The second to last stage of the 2009 World Cup Series in Artistic Gymnastics will be held in Croatia’s fourth largest city Osijek from November 6 – 8, 2009.

This category A tournament will bring together many of the stars seen at the World Championships in London just two weeks ago. An impressive line-up of 133 gymnasts (94 men and 39 women) from 30 different countries are expected to make their way to Osijek’s new sport hall, the Dvorana Gradski vrt, which was used as one of the 2009 Men’s World Handball Championship venues. The venue will be equipped with apparatus supplied by longstanding FIG partner Gymnova, which also supplied the world championships held in London’s O2.

The event will be broadcasted by HRT Hrvatskaradiotelevizija, Croatian Radio-television.

Men’s Artistic Gymnastics

On Floor, it will be interesting to see if 2007 World Champion Diego Hypolito (BRA) has recovered from the shock of missing the Final in London. Israel’s Alexander Shatilov, newly crowned World Bronze medallist, will attempt a repeat of his success while Croatia’s Tomislav Markovic aims for a spot on the podium.

The Pommel Horse competition spotlights China’s Zhang Hongtao, the new World Champion starting as this event’s favourite. His toughest contenders are the host country’s Robert Seligman and Romanian Flavius Koczi, both of whom qualified for the Apparatus Final in London.

On Rings, 2008 Olympic Champion Chen Yibing will be on parade, challenged by Ukrainian Oleksandr Vorobiev, 2009 World Bronze medallist, Arthur Zanetti (BRA) and Robert Stanescu (ROU), who tied for 4th in London.

In the absence of his team-mate Marian Dragulescu, who clinched the victory on Vault at the 2009 Worlds, runner-up Koczi is going for the Gold this time around. The only other London finalist on this apparatus in Osijek is the Netherland’s Jeffrey Wammes.

The Parallel Bars event is peppered with familiar faces, first and foremost China’s Wang Guanyin. The newly crowned World Champion is joined by Epke Zonderland (NED), Adam Kierzkowski and Mitja Petkovsek (SLO), all aiming for the podium.
Will Zonderland have what it takes to repeat his successful Silver-winning Horizontal Bar routine from London? He’s facing Slovenian veteran Aljaz Pegan, who also won World Silver back in 2007 in Stuttgart; Pegan is in great shape and proved it in London where he placed 5th!

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Several familiar faces from the current World Cup Series will be competing in the Women’s competition. On Vault for instance, Annika Urvikko from Finland, who won Bronze in Maribor, and Dutch gymnast Mayra Kroonen, who qualified for the All-around Finals in London.

Brazil’s Ethiene Franco, also a Maribor Bronze medallist, is an Uneven Bars Final hot shot, as is Austrian Hanna Grosch.

On Balance Beam, Poland’s Marta Pihan-Kulesza, Gold medallist from Cottbus and third in Maribor, has a good chance of grabbing yet another medal. But competition is tough: Slovenian Adela Sajn, Silver medallist from Moscow, and Tina Erceg from host country Croatia, intend to take nothing less than the podium!

China’s Sui Lu is a sure-fire favourite in the Floor event. With her Bronze from London she is the only female gymnast competing in Osijek, having medalled at the recent World Championships. Keep an eye on Pihan-Kulesza, Sajn and Erceg on this apparatus!

Check out the nominative entry list!