THE judging was poor but rhythmic gymnasts Izzah Amzan and Koi Sie Yan kept their focus to take home three golds between them.
Izzah was the best of the Malaysian crop as she won two golds (ball and ribbon) and a silver (hoop), while Sie Yan also won a gold for ribbon and a silver in clubs.
Another Malaysian, Amy Kwan Dict Weng, won bronze for the hoop.
There could have been more but for the biased judging. Izzah looked a certain winner in the hoop but was denied when Filipina Danielle Pisa was declared the winner.
The 19-year-old Izzah, who showed great poise and grace in her events, said she did her best in all her routines.
Asked if she was disappointed at losing out on the hoop gold although she performed better than Pisa, she just said she had done her best.
“Everyone deserves to win because they worked so hard, “ she said.
“Rhythmic gymnastics is a subjective sport. We cannot do anything. It’s their (the judges’) job, our job as athletes is to do our best.
“If we feel we have done our best, it’s up to them. For me, I am happy with my performance, that’s what matters.”
Izzah said winning the ball event felt good as she did not do well in the qualifying round. She finished fourth on Friday with 14.650 points.
Yesterday, she aced her routine by scoring 17.800.
“For me, it was meaningful because I bounced back strongly to win this gold.”
“This SEA Games was tougher because we all want to bring back golds but, unfortunately, things happen.
Sie Yan was happy to win the ribbon gold with Izzah, the second time she had to share a gold medal.
In Singapore 2015, she and N. Shasangari Sivaneswari won the gold together for individual all-around.
“It is a proud moment for both of us. There were tears from all of us because we felt we did our best.
“For me personally, my ribbon routine was the best for the season. I hope to bring this momentum to next year and improve on my routines and difficulties.”
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Group Exercise team comprising Chan Mei Thung, Eu Jia Xin, Shak Yuki, Koh Jei Yi, Lee Xin Xao and Lim Chyi Ean also won gold, by beating Thailand and the Philippines. They collected a total of 40.050 points from the single apparatus (ball) and mixed apparatus (clubs and hoops) to beat Thailand, who bagged silver with 39.900 points.
The Philippines completed the podium by collecting 29.150 points.
Yuki said the team’s gold was all thanks to coach Eriko Akebayashi’s planning and choreography.
“It also feels good to defend the title we won in Kuala Lumpur,” said Yuki.
Izzah was the best of the Malaysian crop as she won two golds (ball and ribbon) and a silver (hoop), while Sie Yan also won a gold for ribbon and a silver in clubs.
Another Malaysian, Amy Kwan Dict Weng, won bronze for the hoop.
There could have been more but for the biased judging. Izzah looked a certain winner in the hoop but was denied when Filipina Danielle Pisa was declared the winner.
The 19-year-old Izzah, who showed great poise and grace in her events, said she did her best in all her routines.
Asked if she was disappointed at losing out on the hoop gold although she performed better than Pisa, she just said she had done her best.
“Everyone deserves to win because they worked so hard, “ she said.
“Rhythmic gymnastics is a subjective sport. We cannot do anything. It’s their (the judges’) job, our job as athletes is to do our best.
“If we feel we have done our best, it’s up to them. For me, I am happy with my performance, that’s what matters.”
Izzah said winning the ball event felt good as she did not do well in the qualifying round. She finished fourth on Friday with 14.650 points.
Yesterday, she aced her routine by scoring 17.800.
“For me, it was meaningful because I bounced back strongly to win this gold.”
“This SEA Games was tougher because we all want to bring back golds but, unfortunately, things happen.
Sie Yan was happy to win the ribbon gold with Izzah, the second time she had to share a gold medal.
In Singapore 2015, she and N. Shasangari Sivaneswari won the gold together for individual all-around.
“It is a proud moment for both of us. There were tears from all of us because we felt we did our best.
“For me personally, my ribbon routine was the best for the season. I hope to bring this momentum to next year and improve on my routines and difficulties.”
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Group Exercise team comprising Chan Mei Thung, Eu Jia Xin, Shak Yuki, Koh Jei Yi, Lee Xin Xao and Lim Chyi Ean also won gold, by beating Thailand and the Philippines. They collected a total of 40.050 points from the single apparatus (ball) and mixed apparatus (clubs and hoops) to beat Thailand, who bagged silver with 39.900 points.
The Philippines completed the podium by collecting 29.150 points.
Yuki said the team’s gold was all thanks to coach Eriko Akebayashi’s planning and choreography.
“It also feels good to defend the title we won in Kuala Lumpur,” said Yuki.
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