Star-Studded Field Confirmed for June’s Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore
Singapore, 7th June 2023 – The stage is set for a spectacular showcase of talent as the 10th Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships descend upon the Singapore Sports Hub next week. With a star-studded lineup featuring some of the world’s most accomplished male and female gymnasts, this highly anticipated event promises to captivate fans and mark a significant milestone on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Leading the charge will be Carlos Yulo, the Philippines’ celebrated world champion, who has clinched top honors in the floor exercise in 2019 and vault in 2021 at the World Championships. Joining him on the international stage will be esteemed Olympic medallists, including Lee Chih-kai from Chinese Taipei and Yeo Seo-jeong from South Korea. Additionally, Ahmad Abu Al-Soud from Jordan, an Asian champion and World Championship silver medallist, will also compete for glory.
Athletes vying for a chance to qualify for the 2024 Games must excel in the Singapore Asian Championships to secure their spots at this year’s World Championships in Belgium, a crucial qualifier for the Paris Olympics. The top five teams at the Asian Championships will earn the opportunity to showcase their skills on the global stage.
The Philippines, with their sights firmly set on success in Paris, will be sending their best gymnasts to Singapore. Alongside Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, both 20 years old, are set to be the star attractions. Having previously represented the United States, Finnegan played a pivotal role in Team USA’s gold-winning performance at the 2019 Pan American Games. She later competed for the Philippines at the 2021 SEA Games, clinching two gold medals and two silvers. Malabuyo, an integral member of the US national team since 2016 and an alternate for the 2020 Olympics, will make her debut for the Philippines.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines has set an ambitious target of five gold medals for their team, highlighting their determination to make a mark at the championships. While the team competition is set to command attention, fans can also look forward to thrilling rivalries on the individual apparatus.
One such rivalry to watch out for is the clash between Aleah Finnegan, a favorite in the vault, and South Korea’s Yeo Seo-jeong, the reigning Olympic bronze medallist in the vault. The pommel horse event is also poised to deliver a captivating showdown as Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chih-kai, the current Olympic silver medallist, exhibits his exceptional skills. Lee’s remarkable achievements include winning silver and bronze at the 2019 and 2018 World Championships, respectively. He will face a formidable challenger in Jordan’s Ahmad Abu Al-Soud, a double Asian champion and World Championships silver medallist in the pommel horse.
Before the Asian Championships, Singapore’s very own SEA Games pommel horse silver medallist, Kaeson Lim, alongside the rest of Team Singapore, will participate in the Singapore Open from May 26 to June 4 at the Bishan Sports Hall. Lim expressed his excitement at the opportunity to compete against renowned gymnasts, stating, “As athletes, we always want to push ourselves and test ourselves against some of the best gymnasts in the world. I am excited to take on the big names of the sport
