IT was a glorious day for the Malaysian men’s and women artistic gymnasts at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on Tuesday (22 Aug) following a haul of three gold medals.
Selangor-born Tan Fu Jie, who received a surprise call-up to the national team, and Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing shared gold in the individual pommel horse apparatus. The victory also signalled an end to a 12-year-wait.
Tan and Jeremiah, who won silver at the Singapore SEA Games two years ago, had identical scores of 13.250 points and shared the gold from their more illustrious opponents from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Jamorn ProIndonsmmanee from Thailand was awarded the bronze with 13.250 points.
Malaysia’s third gold was won by Tan Ing Yueh in the women’s individual vault event.
It was in the 2005 Manila Games that Malaysia last won gold medals and that too in the all-around and horizontal bar apparatus event through Ng Shu Wai.
Malaysia also picked silver through Zul Bahrin Mat Asri in the floor exercise event with 13.750 points. Filipino Reyland Yuson Capellan garnered 13.950 points for the gold whilst Tikumporn Surintornta of Thailand scored 13.600 points for a bronze.
Ing Yueh received 13.400 points from the judges while Indonesia’s Rifda Irfanaluthfi (13.288 points) ook silver and Malaysian Tracie Ang won bronze with 12.725 points respectively.
Tracie also clinched silver in the uneven bars with 12.550 points while gold medallist Kaitlin Cera Lianne De La Cruz De Guzman from the Philippines managed 12.875 points and Rifda settled for the bronze with 12.075 points.
Malaysia now has won three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze from artistic events.
