GAP rallies behind Yulo

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) believes Karl Eldrew Yulo can take home four medals when the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships begins on Thursday at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

GAP president Cynthia Carrion said during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association forum Tuesday that she sees the 17-year-old excelling in the floor exercise, vault, rings and parallel bars.

To prepare for the Junior World Championships, the younger brother of double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo trained at the Sohgoh Gymnastics Club in Nagoya, Japan under no less than renowned coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

“Eldrew has been training very, very well in Japan, so if everything goes according to plan he may be good for one or two golds” Carrion said.

“He excels in all of these four events, and if he is able to do what he is supposed to do, he will win golds.”

Kugimiya was instrumental in the Paris Olympics champion’s meteoric rise.

Carrion added that having the home crowd cheer on Yulo will definitely boost his chances of dominating in the same tournament where Shinnouske Oka of Japan ruled before becoming a three-time Olympic champion.

“The fact that he has the home crowd with him is a big booster. He’s really happy and excited,” Carrion said.

Yulo bagged a bronze medal in the Asian Junior Championships in Jecheon, South Korea last July, making him one of the talents to watch out for in the World Championships as he and Elisabeth Antone banner the Filipinos.