A national junior team mostly made up of rookies will be eyeing six to eight gold medals in the Asean Schools Gymnastics championships set to unfold on Nov. 13 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“This is the first time our country is hosting this event. We want to make a good show. So even if we have a lot of rookies, most of them will be gunning for the gold,” said national coach Sonny Ty in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum Tuesday at the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.
Joining Ty in the weekly session sponsored by Pagcor, the Manila City government of Mayor Lito Atienza and the Manila Sports Council headed by Ali Atienza were team members Frederic Lee Ropcas, Kris Mathew Lombridas, Cecilio Cabuenas and Fortunato Abad.
Also at the session was 2005 Southeast Asian Games double gold medallist Roel Ramirez, who will be the country’s sole gymnastics bet in the Doha Asian Games next month.
Ty said that despite their inexperience, all five members of the boys’ gymnastics squad were medal hopefuls “and we expect them to at least win four to six gold medals.”
On the distaff side, Ty said, the nationals were banking on Nica Calapitan, a SEA Games bronze medallist, to do better among the top contenders in rhythmic gymnastics and Kristine Raissa Saguisa, daughter of former senator Rene Saguisag, in the girls’ artistic competitions.
“Of course, we expect strong opposition from our traditional rivals such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. However, we have the hometown edge,” he said.
Sy said that another potential rival, Vietnam, might not be coming because the Asean meet will coincide with its own national tournament.
On the other hand, Ramirez, 24, said he was keen on doing well in his two specialties – the floor exercise and vault – in the Doha Asiad, although it would be tough to go for the gold considering the world-class field which include powerhouses China and Japan.
“To make the finals of these two events would be a great achievement for me. Even bagging a bronze in the floor exercise or the vault would be like winning the gold because of the tough opposition,” said Ramirez, who won the all-around and vault gold medals in the 2005 SEA Games.
Ty, who will coach Ramirez in the Doha sportsfest, said Ramirez might just be the first Filipino gymnast to win a medal in the Asian Games based on his consistent track record in international competition.
“In the gymnastics World Cup held in New York two years ago, he was won a silver, and this was against a field that not only included China and Japan but also top Russian gymnasts,” he said.
“Given the right break, Roel just might make it,” he added.
Good day!
Anyone who knows where to buy balance beam and tumbling mat?
Thanks and God Bless..
where can i buy gym accessories like the ribbon anywhere in cavite area or manila? tnx in advance
no pictures?