No stopping the Uzbek girls

22/06/1998

UZBEK gymnasts again hogged the limelight in the national artistic
championships at the Teachers' Training Hall in Cheras yesterday.
The day's surprise, however, came from the Malaysian boys, instead of
the girls, who earned the cheers.
Competing among themselves, Ahmad Akramin and Onn Kwang Tung led the
charge in the boys' division.
Their scores yesterday bettered the points they achieved at a recent
competition in China.
According to Commonwealth Games team manager Datuk Ghani Pateh Akhir,
this is the result they are looking for.
"Right now, consistency is what we need. I have compared the boys'
results with those achieved in the championship in China and they have
improved," he said.
"We plan to organise another international championships in August as
final preparations for the Commonwealth Games. After watching the girls
today, we are feel that they need more international exposure."
As expected, the girls failed to topple the Uzbeks in the four
disciplines that were contested. Olympian Oxana Chusovitina won the uneven
bars and vault while her teammates, Renata Habib Rahmananova and Alexandra
Gordeeva, took the floor and beam gold medals.
Artistic coach Vasil Korsun agrees with Ghani, saying the Malaysian
girls need more competitions.
"Today (yesterday), we tested some new routines and that is why they
were a little jittery. We need to introduce some difficult moves so that
they will have a better chance of collecting points during the
Commonwealth Games."
Results - Boys - Floor: 1 Ahmad Akramin 8.10 pts, 2 Onn Kwang Tung 7.90
and Ahmad Fadil 7.90; Pommel: Loke Yik Siang 8.85, 2 Onn Kwang Tung 8.15,
3 Nurul Zaiman Mansor 7.75; Rings: 1 Onn Kwang Tung 7.90, 2 Heng Wah Jing
7.50, 3 Nurul Zaiman Mansor 7.20; Vault: 1 Loke Yik Siang 9.025, 2 Ahmad
Fadil 8.725, 3 Onn Kwang Tung 8.65; High bar: 1 Loke Yik Siang 9.40, 2 Onn
Kwang Tung 8.95, 3 Heng Wah Jing 7.65; Parallel bar: 1 Loke Yik Siang
8.25, 2 Heng Wah Jing 8.1, 3 Ahmad Fadil 7.95.
Girls - Floor: 1 Renata Habib Rahmananova (Uzbek) 8.725, 2 Almira
Kambekova (Uzbek) 8.45, 3 Yap Yee Yin 8.375; Beam: 1 Alexandra Gordeeva
(Uzbek) 9.1, 2 Au Li Yen 8.35, 3 Nurul Fatiha 8.25; Uneven bar: 1 Oxana
Chusovitina (Uzbek) 9.1, 2 Svetlana Bahredinavo (Uzbek) 8.725, 3 Chang
Siew Ting 8.35; Vault: 1 Oxana Chusovitina (Uzbek) 9.525, 2 Svetlana
Bahredinavo (Uzbek) 9.1875, 3 Au Li Yen 9.025.
(END)