Ukrainian athletes had to compete against rivals from Russia at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha ©Qatar Gymnastics Federation

Viktoriia Listunova and Mariia Minaeva, competing for the Russian Gymnastics Federation (RGF) as neutral athletes, finished first and second in the women's uneven bars today on the first day of finals at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic World Cup in Doha. 

Listunova scored 14.566 points for the gold medal with a top difficulty and execution mark, in front of Minaeva who finished with 13.366 at the Aspire Dome.

It is set to be their last competition for a while as, it was announced shortly afterwards, that the FIG were banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in its competitions from Monday (March 7). 

Echoes of the Ukrainian war were never far away from this competition as Daniela Batrona, representing a country currently under attack, took the bronze medal with 12.466 points, marginally in front of Slovenia's Lucija Hribar on 12.400.

Listunova won a second medal after finishing third in the vault with a median score of 13.133 points.

She finished behind the winner, the remarkable 46-year-old, Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan and silver medallist Csenge Bácskay of Hungary.

Chusovitina, who has competed in every Olympic Games since Barcelona 1992, had an average score of 13.600 points, in front of Bácskay's 13.150.

Armenia claimed a one-two of their own thanks to Vahagan Davtyan and Artur Avetisyan in the men's rings.

Uzbekistan's 46-year-old Oksana Chusovitina added another medal to her tally with victory in the vault at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha ©Qatar Gymnastics Federation
Uzbekistan's 46-year-old Oksana Chusovitina added another medal to her tally with victory in the vault at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha ©Qatar Gymnastics Federation

Davtyan's execution of his routine secured him the gold with a score of 14.700 points in front of Avetisyan's 14.500.

Nikita Simonov from Azerbaijan took bronze with a best of 14.333 points.

Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov scored 15.200 points to take the gold medal in the men's pommel horse, finishing comfortably in front of the Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan's 14.933.

Harutyun Merdinyan of Armenia scored 14.600 points for the bronze.

Finally, Israel's Artem Dolgopyat was victorious in the floor exercise with a score of 14.733 points.

Illia Kovtun of Ukraine was second with 14.333 points and Aurel Benović of Croatia completed the podium with 14.166.

Competition is due to end tomorrow with five more finals.