GYMNASTICS chief Cynthia Carrion is hopeful that five months of intensive training in Japan will bear golden fruits for Karl Eldrew Yulo in his last outing as a junior athlete in the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships opening on Wednesday at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom within the Newport World Resort in Pasay City.
“Eldrew has been training very, very well in Japan, so if everything goes according to plan he may be good for one or two golds” said Carrion Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC conference room inside the Rizal Memorial Complex.
The younger sibling of Paris Olympic Games’ double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo has been training at the Sohgoh Gymnastics Club in Nagoya under no less than renowned Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, who was instrumental in honing the elder Yulo as a world and Olympic champion.
Carrion said she hopes Eldrew, like his brother, will excel in the floor exercise, parallel bars, rings and vault, an event where he bagged a bronze medal in the Asian Junior Championships in Jecheon, South Korea last July.
“He (Yulo) excels in all of these four events, and if he is able to do what he is supposed to do, he will win golds,” added the gymnastics’ head in the session supported by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic, Committee, MILO and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
She was also delighted to announce that the Philippines will now be able to field men’s and women’s squad in the five-day meet also backed by the Office of the President and the Department of Tourism.
“Despite the fact that we were the host country, the International Gymnastics Federation declined our request to field teams, which may be sad,” said Carrion,” because we did not compete in the two past editions of the world juniors.
“But suddenly, the FIG belatedly told us we could field teams so that we had to undergo an evaluation so other gymnasts will join Karl Eldrew and Elizabeth Antone, who were supposed to be our lone representatives in each division.”
Teaming up with Yulo are Hilarion Palles III, older brother John Anthony and CJ Pernia, all standouts in the last Batang Pinoy National Championships, while Maxine Bondoc, Sabina Tayag and Jellian Bantilan are joining Antone on the distaff side.
“Vying in the team championship will be challenging for both boys and girls teams, considering that they will be up against tough teams like the US, Japan, China, even Malaysia,” Carrion noted.
“But this will be a good experience and exposure for them and they are only bound to get better.”
To draw more younger people to the attractive and dynamic Olympic sport, she added that “we are offering school children to watch the world championships for free, especially on the opening day on Nov. 20.
“We want the Grand Ballroom to be filled to the brim.”
Carrion disclosed the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines spared no expense for an unforgettable and colorful opening ceremony featuring Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda, who will sing the tournament’s catchy theme song “Going for Gold.”
She added movie star Derek Ramsey, a GAP’s board member, will emcee the inaugural rites of the competition also backed by Milo and Pocari Sweat.
