KL team eye gold in Korat Games

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur rhythmic gymnastics group exercise team, led by Elaine Tan Ee Leng, hope to make a golden debut in the Korat SEA Games in December to boost the sport's popularity in the country.

Yesterday, 14-year-old Elaine and team-mates Brenda Yap Ka Lye, Yong Kah Munn, Lio Fui Zhe and Michele Lee won selection for the SEA Games in Korat after emerging as the winners in the National Open Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships at Gymnasium Two in Bukit Jalil.

The KL team amassed a total score of 27.200 to seal their place in the Games. Selangor came in second with 26.250 points and Singapore third with 24.350.

Elaine, who is also the country’s top junior rhythmic gymnast after winning the individual all-around title with 88.325 points, was happy to see the team’s hard work pay off.

“We study in different schools but everyday we go through three hours of tough training at Bukit Jalil. We have been doing this diligently for the last one and half months. I am excited to be making the trip to the SEA Games for the first time,” said Elaine.

“The event (group exercise) is still new in the country. In fact, it will be introduced for the first time in the SEA Games. We hope to win a gold and hopefully then, more people will be involved in this.”

Besides Malaysia, the other teams who will be challenging for the medals in Korat are hosts Thailand and Singapore.

Junior

Individual all-around: 1. Elaine Tan Ee Leng (Kul) 88.325, 2. Brenda Yap Ka Lye (Kul) 87.425, 3. Elaine Koon (Sel) 85.650.

Ball: 1. Brenda Yap Ka Lye (Kul) 22.675, 2. Elaine Tan Ee Leng (Kul) 22.400, 3. Nurhidayah Wahid (Sel) 21.600

Ribbon: 1. Elaine Tan Ee Leng (Kul) 22.275, 2. Elaine Koon (Sel) 22.000, 3. Brenda Yap Ka Lye (Kul) 21.225

Group exercise

Senior: 1. Kuala Lumpur 27.200, 2. Selangor 26.250, 3. Singapore 24.350.

Junior: 1. Selangor 25.825, 2. Malacca 17.525.

The Star