Gymnast Farah out to prove her critics wrong in Incheon

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi is the only Malaysian artistic gymnast selected to compete in the Incheon Asian Games starting Sept 19. - AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi hopes to prove her doubters wrong by making the individual all-around final again at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from Sept 19-Oct 4.

Farah achieved her best finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month after finishing 11th in the individual all-around final.

“It will be tough in Incheon, but I’m concentrating on doing my best and hopefully make my second individual all-around final. My target is to hit the 13-point mark or more in every event. In Glasgow, I achieved that in the vault (13.933). I also got close in the floor (12.966),” said the 20-year-old.

The artistic gymnastics competition will run from Sept 21-25 at the Namdong Gymnasium and Farah will then fly off to Nanning, China, for the Artistic World Championships (Oct 3-12).

“It’s been a good build-up for me this year with the (Artistic Celtic Cup-Commonwealth) Invitational in Glasgow (April), Singapore Open (May) and Commonwealth Games. So I’m looking forward to Incheon and then competing at the worlds,” said Farah who picked up two bronzes at the Celtic Cup and two golds and two silvers in Singapore.

“I’ve incorporated some new skills in the uneven bars and the floor exercise. My coach decided that we should up the ante in Incheon and it’s time to bring my performance to a higher level ahead of the worlds.”

Farah, the 2011 SEA Games silver medallist in the uneven bars, will be the only artistic gymnast to compete in Incheon

Initially, no artistic gymnast was selected but the decision was reversed to allow Farah to compete.

“I am always proud and grateful to represent Malaysia. Of course, I dream of being a world or Olympic champion. That’s every athlete’s dream, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way,” said Farah.

“We (gymnasts) put in a lot of hard work, train double sessions, six hours a day. We do it for the love of the sport and I will keep striving to be the best that I can be.”