MGF believe gymnasts selected for SEA Games will shine in Thailand

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) have big hopes for this year’s Thailand SEA Games in December.

Artistic gymnastics technical chairman Mohd Faiz Mohd Ameer is confident that the athletes selected will be able to shine for the country, despite the competition format favouring hosts Thailand, as it will focus on individual events.

“We are aware that Thailand will use its hosting rights to select events that benefit them,” he said.

“But so far, in terms of preparation, we are on the right track. Our athletes are training well and have gone through the assessments and qualification tests.”

The Thailand SEA Games from Dec 9-20 will feature 16 events in gymnastics, but there will be no individual all-around as well as the team events for the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics.

Faiz said the federation are focusing on the athletes that have high medal chances at the games.

Although the medal target has not been set for the team, the hopes are that they will do better than their five bronze medal haul at the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

“There are still several competitions that our athletes will compete in to meet the benchmark that we have set, and some are recovering from injuries as well.

“We want to select the athletes that can fight for medals in Thailand and are confident in our technical capabilities,” said Faiz.

Terengganu Muhammad Shahrul Ajmy Mohd Kamaru Hisamattempting the Pommel Horseduring the final of the event at the National Sports Council (NSC) Gymnasium. KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star.

National gymnast Mohd Sharul Aimy (pic), who took bronze in the pommel horse in 2023, is back to training after undergoing knee surgery for a torn meniscus, and is set to test his fitness at the World Championships in Jakarta in October.

Only seven athletes, comprising four men and three women, will make up the national team for Thailand.