By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippines caught the world’s attention after Carlos Yulo completed a historic two-gold medal haul in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Expect more honors to come as the country is set to host the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in November where top junior gymnasts are ready to showcase their stuff in the hopes of scoring big someday like Yulo.
Slated from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, which previously hosted the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2015, in Pasay City, the country will cater to no less than 2,000 visitors composed of athletes along with their parents and coaches from 93 countries.
Though the odds are high for the Nationals as the globe’s top-tier youth gymnasts joining in, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) chief Cynthia Carrion believes that the Filipino pair of Eldrew Yulo and Elisabeth Antone have what it takes to reach the podium.
“I know they are capable of performing well there, knowing Eldrew and Elisabeth, they are very talented and they can compete against the best,” said Antone during the event’s official media launch at Newport Performing Arts Theater Thursday afternoon, Aug. 14.
“We just have to believe, I know they are pouring in their full effort, just to give the country a medal, and this would be a great opportunity for them to gain some experience,” she added.
Eldrew was absent in the launching as he is currently honing his craft under coach Munehiro Kugimiya in Japan, and so was Antone who is also deep in training in the US.
Both had fruitful stints overseas with Eldrew winning a silver in the vault event of the Asian Junior Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jecheon, South Korea last June where Antone snared a bronze in the girls’ all-around of the same competition.
