The Peninsula
After his successful run at the recently-held GCC Aquatics Championships, Qatar’s teenage star Abdulaziz Al Obaidly is targeting a top show in Doha this weekend.
The 17-year-old, after clinching two golds and a bronze medal in Kuwait in the regional competition in September, hardly took a rest as he was preparing for the FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2019, which begins at the Hamad Aquatic Centre tomorrow.
The Qatari capital is welcoming an array of stars in the three-day event, which will wrap up the 2019 FINA Swimming World Cup series.
Al Obaidly will be competing with the likes of South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Russia’s Vladimir Morozov.
“It is going to be a tough event as all the top swimmers are competing, and I am looking forward to the challenge,” Al Obaidly told The Peninsula.
“The presence of the top field is giving more motivation in the training. This event gives us plenty of experience,” he said.
“My training is going well and I feel ready for the event,” the talented swimmer added.
In last year’s edition, Al Obaidly thrilled home fans by reaching the finals of 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley events, which featured top ranked swimmers.
He clocked 1:01.87 in the 100m final for a commendable 6th position, and finished the decisive race of 200m individual medley in 2:13.86 for 7th position.
The GCC champion said he would look to improve his times in the three events he will compete in the World Cup.
“This year I am competing in 100m and 200m breaststroke events, and the 200m individual medley. My first target will be to qualify for the finals as it is also a big challenge in front of world’s best swimmers. I am confident and looking forward to be more fast,” said Al Obaidly.
The teenager is one of the 17 swimmers, who will represent the host nation at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.
Qatar squad also includes young talent like Yacob Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Yousef Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi and Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed.
In all, a total of 210 swimmers including 134 male and 76 female athletes from 44 countries will take part in the event.
This year, Doha is the last stop of FINA Swimming World Cup series, and will decide the winners of cluster 3, while the overall winners will also be announced.