KUALA LUMPUR – 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Ng Joe Ee, might dance her way in one routine – hoop – at the 15th Rhythmic Gymnastic Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 2 to 4.
Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) vice-president Petrina Low said hoop might be the safest bet for Joe Ee to compete in the regional competition to avoid aggravating her back injury sustained prior to the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in China, last year.
“As for now we only plan for her to do one routine which is hoop. Even though the doctor told us nothing is serious we still have to be careful.
“We don’t want to risk her injury so that is why we pick hoop as it involves less arching (melentik ke belakang),” she told Bernama.
However, Petrina did not discount another possibility that Joe Ee will compete in other routines, depending on her progress ahead of her first assignment since the Hangzhou Asiad, which is the Rhythmic Gymnastics Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul, Turkiye from April 19 to 21.
“After the event in Turkiye, the national gymnasts will then head for a training camp in Baku, Azerbaijan from April 22 to 30 before going to Tashkent from April 30 to May 5,” she added.
Petrina said the 18-year-old Joe Ee will be joined by two other senior gymnasts – Mavia Wong Weng Qin and Lai Yun Jo – as well as two juniors and six others for a group event for the upcoming Asian meet.
While acknowledging the fact that tricky journeys await fellow national gymnasts in Tashkent, she said qualifying for the finals will be a good achievement for them.
She also said that the competition would offer one final spot for the 2024 Olympic Games which belongs to those who win the individual all-around event.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
In another development, Petrina said MGF expects two former national gymnasts – Koi Sie Yan and Izzah Amzan – as assistant coaches for the national team next year.
In December last year, Petrina said the two former Commonwealth Games medallists Izzah and Sie Yan would be hired on a part-time basis as they are still studying in institutions of higher learning. – April 14, 2024