Rachel opts for tougher routines as she chases Games success

Aiming high: National gymnast Rachel Yeoh Li Wen is seeking to reach the Glasgow Commonwealth Games final. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: National artistic gymnast Rachel Yeoh Li Wen is refusing to play it safe at the Commonwealth Games.

Instead, the 27-year-old has chosen to raise the difficulty of all her routines in a bold bid to vault into medal contention when the competition begins on Thursday in Glasgow.

Rachel has worked closely with coach Ng Shu Wai to increase the difficulty level across all four apparatus, believing the higher-risk approach gives her the best chance of challenging for a podium finish.

“We have decided to show that we have what it takes to handle some of the tougher routines and difficulty levels at these Games,” said Rachel.

“We’ve raised our routine difficulty from 5.7 to 6.3.

“Everything is going according to plan now, and we just want to bring our best to Glasgow.”

“Reaching the final is the aim — that’s compulsory for me. I want to fight for a podium spot. At the very least, a bronze would be nice.”

Rachel previously represented Malaysia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she finished 16th on the uneven bars.

She is looking to qualify for uneven bars, her favourite event, and hopefully be part of the balance beam final.

Besides Rachel, the other female gymnasts are Yap Kang Xian and Cadence Teh Zi Qi.

As for the men’s category, the gymnasts are Mohd Sharul Aimy, Ng Chun Chen and Luqman Al Hafiz Zulfa.

The artistic gymnastics event will be at The Arena in Glasgow from July 24 to 28.

Rachel said her ambitions stretch beyond Glasgow, with the Asian Games also on her radar, along with a bid to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I also feel I can be ready for the next SEA Games in 2027 in Malaysia. I want to keep pushing myself to a higher difficulty level. The main thing is to keep my body healthy,” she said.

Rachel did contemplate retirement, no thanks to various injuries, especially the last one when she had a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury last year, but after her third SEA Games gold in Thailand, she felt ready for more competitions despite entering an age where most gymnasts are past their peak.

She has now won three SEA Games gold medals in total: two in 2021 (balance beam and uneven bars) and another in 2025 on the uneven bars.