S’wak gymnasts shine at national junior meet
KUCHING: Sarawak young gymnasts continued to shine at the National Youth Circuit Artistic Gymnastic Championship at Gymnasium 3, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur from April 20 to 21.
The 12-member team comprising six boys and six girls produced a massive haul of 12 gold, 10 silver and 30 bronze medals for Sarawak’s best ever achievement in the national junior meet.
There were nine teams in Boys Class 1 competition namely Kelantan, Kedah, Sarawak, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Johor, Penang and Terengganu while the Girls Level 1 competition saw eight teams Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Selangor, Sarawak, Perlis, Perak and Johor vying for top honours.
The six gold medals in the boys categories was won by Ariel Andrian (rings, floor exercise), Joachim Rafael (individual all-around final), Muhd Aqil (horizontal bar).
Hanis Fridaus (vault) and team event (Ariel, Joachim, Mohd Nazrieezaniel, Muhd Aqil, Hanis and William Henri). They also bagged five silvers and 15 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Sarawak also claimed the team event gold in the girls competition through Marisa Andriana, Emilia Lynn Gazali, Enrianna Angel, Qisya Ameerah, Nur Adiera Tamidon and Qaisara Batriesha.
Adiera was the star performer of the team as she also bagged gold medals in the individual all-around final, vault, floor exercise as well as bronze medals in the balance beam and uneven bars.
There was more good news for Sarawak as Sukma athlete Esmelda Arecia, who accompanied the team, passed her Level 5 grading test.
“I am very satisfied with the performance of our boys and girls. They did very well in this outing. They were very confident and displayed good fighting spirit.
“I am very confident that they will continue to do well under the guidance of Bogomil Ivanov Momchilov and Gergana Momchilova,” said Sarawak Amateur Gymnastic Association president Helena Christine Wee.
According to Wee, this was the best ever competition that Sarawak had ever participated.
“It is a very good exposure for our future Sukma squad. Our senior and junior athletes will compete in Sportexcel and National Championship in November this year,” she added.
I am very satisfied with the performance of our boys and girls. They did very well in this outing. They were very confident and displayed good fighting spirit. Helena Christine Wee