PETALING JAYA: Pain is worth enduring for national artistic gymnast Mohd Sharul Aimy when it comes to an Asian Games that only takes place once every four years.
The 25-year-old is nursing a shoulder injury that requires surgery as well as a meniscus problem, but he would rather shoulder the weight of expectation at the Asian Games than worry about his injuries.
Sharul will compete only in the vault when qualification begins today at Rainbow Hall, having opted out of the individual all-around to focus solely on his strongest event.
"It's not that I'm feeling great, but the Games only happens once every four years. I don't want to let this chance go," said Sharul.
"Anything can happen in the next four years. A junior could beat me by then.
"I'm still injured, but I'm keeping my spirits up. In training, I kept it light as I didn't want to make the injury worse.
"I focused more on my work quality, and did more rehab and physiotherapy.
The shoulder issue has lingered for some time and will eventually require an operation, but Sharul is prioritising next year's SEA Games in Malaysia over going under the knife immediately.
"The shoulder has been a problem for a while and I do need to operate, but there's no time before next year's SEA Games in Malaysia. I don't want to miss that too," he said.
As for the meniscus, he has been feeling it since the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he came so close to breaking a 20-year medal drought for Malaysia in artistic gymnastics after finishing fourth.
"My meniscus has flared up again. After the Asian Games, I plan to either operate or go for PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment."
Sharul said he would compete with a new mindset.
"I only qualified for vault this time. My focus isn't spread out like before," he said.
"Last time, I treated it like just another competition, doing maybe ten routines. This time it's five, with good landings and good execution."
"The target is to reach the final by finishing top eight in the qualifying. It's all about work quality and right execution."
Beyond the competition, Sharul said one of the highlights of the Games was reconnecting with gymnasts from other nations, including the Philippines squad led by star performer Carlos Yulo.
"I've known them since the 2018 Asian Schools Games. We trained with the Japanese team too, and we've enjoyed going shopping together in Japan," he added.
