Sunday January 13, 2013
Gymnasts to compete under new rules at AYOF
By Ashreena Pillai
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian rhythmic gymnasts will venture into uncharted territory when they compete in the sixth Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Sydney from Jan 16-20.
The biennial event, set to be the biggest ever with 30 countries participating in 17 sports, will be the first tournament of the 2013-2016 cycle that will utilise the International Gymnastics Federation’s (FIG) new code of points.
The code, currently in its 13th cycle, emphasises more on the mastery of basics gymnastics, movements with the apparatus as well as the incorporation of dance steps.
It will be the Malaysian gymnasts’ fourth appearance at the festival and the onus will be on 13-year-olds Shak Yuki and Shasangri Sivanewwary Nagarajan and 12-year-olds Chong Lok Yi and Iman Iskandar Chan to start the year on the right foot.
The girls will take part in the team and all-around individual competition performing four routines each – ball, clubs, hoop and ribbon.
Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) elite and back-up squad co-ordinator Petrina Low said the competition, which will be held at the State Sports Centre in the Sydney Olympic Park, will not only give the gymnasts a chance to get used to the new scoring system but also for her to assess their performances.
“We’re not expecting anything. It’ll be like a trial run for the code of points and a chance for our girls to compete there,” said Petrina.
Other countries competing are hosts Australia, China, New Zealand and Britain.
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