Story by Ng Enna/Red Sports and Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Low Sze Sen/Red Sports
Beauty and charm belies the skillful combination of a gymnast and dancer. (Photo 1 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
Bishan Sports Hall, Tuesday, August 24, 2010 — The Singapore team failed to qualify for tomorrow’s rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final after finishing in fifth place with a score of 39.150.
Making it through to the final instead are the top-four teams — Russia, Japan, Egypt and Canada — in today’s qualification rotations.
The Singapore quartet, consisting of Phann Yilin, Ann Sim, Cecilia Chia and Miki Nomura missed out on the final by two points — 39.150 to Canada’s (the fourth placed team) 41.150.
“I think that our performances today were not bad but can be improved. It is not our best but it was not bad as well. We could have done better but we did what we wanted to do so we are happy. We were just trying to do our best and it was still up to expectations,” Cecilia, the CHIJ St. Nicholas girl said.
Nonetheless, the girls managed to finish 1.050 points ahead of the quartet from Australia, who finished sixth and last.
Decked in blue, the Singapore girls were the first to show off their routine using the hoops. They strutted gracefully onto the floor and performed gymnastic stunts and a series of tosses, throws and catches using the hoop.
The 15-year-olds scored 19.600 in this rotation after a 0.20 point penalty, placing them fifth overall.
Donning white costumes, the girls executed their second routine, using ribbons, with grace and poise.
Even though one of the ribbons dropped to the ground in the midst of the performance, the team was still happy with their performance, satisfactory enough to give their coach, Zhu Xiaoping, high-fives at the end of it.
Despite being the first team to perform for both rotations, the girls did not feel the pressure. They said: “In fact, it is better to perform first. We don’t feel so stressed after our performances and we can relax instead of waiting (anxiously).”
Their second routine with the ribbons, which lasted two-and-a-half minutes, earned them a “Well Done Singapore!” from the audience and 19.550 points from the panel of judges.
When asked which apparatus is the harder to perform with, Cecilia answered: “For us it would be ribbons, because it is very hard to be in control of the patterns. But if you don’t put your heart to it, both can be as difficult.”
Russia’s Ksenia Dudkina, Olga Ilina, Alina Makarenko and Karolina Sevastyanova dominated both rotations. They earned 26.450 points in the first rotation and they extended their lead in the second rotation with 25.800 points. The girls accumulated 52.250 points, putting them comfortably ahead of Japan — the next best team — by 6.350 points.
The Group All-Around Final will take place tomorrow at 6pm (local time) at the Bishan Sports Hall.
Team Singapore’s rhythmic gymnastics quartet comprises Cecilia Chia, Miki Erika Nomura, Phaan Yi Lin and Ann Sim. For the first of two routines, the teams use the hoop as the apparatus for their performances. (Photo 2 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
Team Singapore mesmerizes the crowd with the visually appealing fluidity of their ribbons of magenta — the second apparatus in the competition. (Photo 3 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
A wonderfully energetic routine scored well in a field that includes Russia and Japan. The Singapore quartet made it to fifth place out of six teams. (Photo 4 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
Our gymnasts’ accuracy and coordination with the apparatus was close to impeccable, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd with each successful catch. (Photo 5 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
An anxious team and the coach await for the judges’ scores for artistry and technical difficulty for their performance with the ribbon. (Photo 6 © Low Sze Sen/Red Sports)
For Singapore fixtures and results, go to our 2010 YOG fixtures page
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