Young gymnasts out to make impressive finish

The Philippine Gymnastics contingent is "on track" to win the two gold medals at stake today at the start of the men’s and women’s team artistic gymnastics in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

"We are still on the track when it comes to performance," gymnastics head coach Santiago Ty said. "The cleaner our movements, the lesser the deductions, (we will get)."

Ty, who remains confident his team will perform well in the SEAG, said the athletes have undergone rigorous training and have been given much support and for these, their morale is high even as they face gymnastics powerhouses Vietnam and Malaysia.

The team gearing for four disciplines has a mix of athletes that include 2003 SEAG gold medalists Neil Faustino and Brian Peralta; bronze medalists Bonnie Brydon Sy and Danielle Phoebe Espiritu; Philippines’ No. 1 in rhythmic Gymnast Danica Calapatan; and No. 4 Kristine Raissa Saguisag, daughter of former Senator Rene Saguisag.

Calapatan, 12, despite being the youngest in the team, has earned the nod of her coaches to perform well in the rhythmic gymnastics event, where the team is composed mostly of young talents, the oldest of which being 14. — Reagan Tan/Contributor