National Gymrama squad targets six gold medals in KL2017

KUALA LUMPUR: The rhythmic gymnastics squad are determined to put their best foot forward to achieve the target of six gold medals at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games scheduled from Aug 19 to 30.
National rhythmic gymnastics team manager Farrah Hani Imran said all preparations were proceeding well and the target of six gold medals was a realistic target if the home ground advantage is taken into consideration.
"The individual events offer six gold medals while two more gold medals will come from team events and we are targeting to win six of the eight gold medals offered in the competition. As everyone knows, we cannot control some matters, nonetheless performing before local supporters could boost the spirit of our gymnasts to give their best," she told reporters at a Kita Juara 2017 programme with the gymrama squad at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil, here today.
Farrah Hani who was a former gymrama queen herself, described the support from two experts in the sports since last December, as a big help to improve the performance of the gymnasts.
She said the presence of the two experts is aimed at evaluating the capabilities of each individual gymnast.
"We engaged two experts from two top gymnastic countries to prepare a competitive routine for our gymnasts as the sports is not about throwing and catching, there is in fact science behind each movement.
"The movement of gymnasts including their reaction during competition would also account for marks and it is the job of the experts to identify the capability and reaction of each gymnast toward her routine," she said.
In the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, Malaysia won two gold and one silver medal.
Meanwhile, national gymnast, Farah Ann Abdul Hadi has targeted to defend the two gold medals she had won in Singapore when the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games opens the door.
The Selangor-born gymnast who took the floor exercise and team gold in the Singapore edition said home crowd support could enhance the performance of gymnasts.
As preparations for the SEA Games, Farah Ann said the national squad would be undergoing intensive training for 10 days in Australia, starting from June 11, before returning home to continue training. — Bernama