Gymnast Zul Bahrin faces tough opponent in quest for SEA Games gold

KUALA LUMPUR: It looks like artistic gymnast Zul Bahrin Mat Asri (pic) will have to overcome another Filipino in his bid to win a SEA Games gold medal.

At the last Games in Kuala Lumpur, Zul Bahrin picked up a silver when he was beaten in the floor exercise by Reyland Capellan.

This time in the Philippines, the hosts will be parading Carlos Yulo, whose credentials are much better than Capellan.

The 19-year-old Yulo competed in the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Doha, Qatar, in October and won a bronze to become the first male South-East Asian gymnast to win a medal at the championships.

Last week, he shared the gold medal with seven-time Olympic medallist Kohei Uchimura at the All Japan Senior Championships.

Zul Bahrin, 22, who competed at regional events – Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Mongolia and Singapore Open – failed to make the finals.

But Zul Bahrin is undeterred as he believes he can pull off a shock at the Games which starts from Nov 30 to Dec 11.

“I admit that my preparation needs to be better. However, I still have confidence because the floor exercise is my favourite event.

“Agility is something that I’m working on.

“Also, I need to fine tune some of my routines before the Games,” said Zul Bahrin, who is training under new coach Tan Jia En from China.

The Terengganu lad is beginning to adapt to Jia En’s methods and hopes it would come good at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships next month in Stuttgart, Germany.

“With more competitions, you get more confidence. I aim to do well there and hopefully be at my best form in Manila.

“Coach Tan told me to train like I’m in a competition.

“The training sessions are intense but I’m not complaining because I can see some improvements.”

Zul Bahrin will also take part in the parallel bar, high bar, steel ring, pommel horse and vault in Manila.