Jern Rong aims for surprise artistic gymnastics gold

THE Malaysian artistic gymnastics team are not expected to win the gold medal, but try telling that to debutant Chau Jern Rong.

The 19-year-old said that “we are all pumped up to surprise everyone”.

Vietnam are seen as the heavy favourites when the competition starts at Hall 9 of the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MiTEC) in Kuala Lumpur today.

The others in the six-man team are Jeremiah Loo, Tan Fu Jie, Muhd Abdul Azim Othman, Azroy Amierol Jaafar and Zul Bahrin Mat Asri.

Jeremiah injured his ankle during a control test on Friday but Jern Rong g brushed it off as “nothing t o worry about”.

“Yes, he still feels some pain but we are used to competing in such conditions. Jeremiah will give h is best no matter what,” said Jern Rong.

At the Singapore Games two years ago, Jeremiah won a surprise silver in horizontal bar.

“All of us took part in the T Taiwan Open two weeks ag o. We didn’t take part in the team event but we did quite well in the individual events and that has put us in good stead.

“Vietnam have done well in the previous Games but we’re motivated to do well at home.

“We have trained hard. So, hopefully, all of us can turn the tables on the favourites,” said Jern Rong, who won the high bar gold at the Hong Kong Open this year.

Malaysia last clinched gold in men’s artistic when Ooi Wei Siang finished joint-winner with Vietnam’s Pham Phuoc Hung at Korat 2007.