Sašo Bertoncelj won a silver medal at the European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2018 ©Getty Images

The 2021 International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics World Cup season continues tomorrow with the FIG World Challenge Cup until September 5 in Koper.

The event, held in Slovenia, is due to be the penultimate event before the 2020-2021 FIG World Challenge Cup rankings come to a close.

While Slovenian stars Sašo Bertoncelj, Tjaša Kysselef and Rok Klavora headline the field for the hosts, several leaders of the world ranking list will look to continue their dominance to stake a claim for the overall trophy.

Among them are Croatia’s Aurel Benović, Albania’s Matvei Petrov and Austria’s Vinzenz Höck who lead the World Challenge Cup standings for the men’s floor exercise, pommel horse and rings events respectively.

Ana Đerek competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in the floor exercise and balance beam events ©Getty Images
Ana Đerek competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in the floor exercise and balance beam events ©Getty Images

On the women’s side Csenge Maria Bácskay of Hungary is the only current leader to compete in Slovenia as she hopes to extend her lead on vault.

Croatia’s Ana Đerek, who currently sits in second place on floor exercise, will be looking to leapfrog Diana Varinska of Ukraine, who is not competing in Koper.

Varinska also leads the uneven bars and balance beam rankings in the 2020-2021 FIG World Challenge Cup rankings.

Many athletes will use the competition to prepare for the 2021 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Japan which is set to take place in Kitakyushu.