GAP upbeat over Yulo’s chances

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) has high hopes for Carlos Yulo as he starts his campaign in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta.

GAP president Cynthia Carrion said the double Olympic gold medalist is in fine form and nothing but a podium finish is his only agenda.

The 25-year-old Yulo is competing at press time along with John Ivan Cruz, Juancho Miguel Besana and Justin Ace dela Cruz men’s qualification phase subdivision 6 at press time at the Indonesia Stadium.

“All very good and getting better. Praying that Carlos will win,” Carrion told DAILY TRIBUNE.

Even Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio came to the Indonesian capital to show his support for the Filipino gymnasts.

“It’s different when there’s an official supporting you. You get more motivated,” Gregorio said.

Yulo will need all the support he could get as he goes up against a stacked field of players in the world championships.

Gymnasts like Filipino-British Jake Jarman, Artur Davtyan of Armenia and Shinnosuke Oka of Japan will also be joining the biggest gymnastics tournament outside the Olympics.

“I still want the taste of competition,” Yulo said. “That is the most important thing for me right now.”

The two-time world champion said he sustained an injury two months before the tournament.

Yulo said he hopes to give a great show despite the wrist injury that has been bothering him.

“I kind of did it too much. I kind of have been having trouble with my wrists,” Yulo said.

The world championships will be Yulo’s last major tournament of the year as he opted to skip the 33rd Southeast Asian Games due to being limited to just one apparatus.