State gymnasts (from left) Amira, Esmelda and Syahzani posing with Bogomil and MSNS coach Gergana Kostadinova Momchilova upon their arrival at KLIA on Monday night. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei
KUCHING: Three Sarawak gymnasts made a major contribution to the success of the Malaysian team at the 6th ASEAN School Games (ASG) held in Marikina City, Philippines from Nov 29 to Dec 7.
Esmelda Arecia Menti Alfred Geling, Best Sportswoman of last year’s Sukma, with Nur Amira Idayah and Syahzani Izatti Wan Yusof helped Malaysia to capture two gold, one silver and two bronze medals to emerge as the overall champions in the gymnastics competition from Dec 1-3.
Fourteen-year-old Esmelda, who won two gold, three silver and a bronze in Sukma 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, stole the limelight by bagging two gold medals in the vault and balance beam.
Together with Amira, Syahzani, Siti Nur Bahagia from Pahang and Nur Azira Azri from Selangor, they won the silver medal in the team event.
The trio were accompanied by MSNS coach Bogomil Ivanov Momchilov who has been coaching them for seven years.
“This is the best result that Malaysia has achieved at the ASEAN School Games and Malaysia was placed fifth at the last games in Vietnam,” said Bogomil when met at the Kuching International Airport on Monday night.
According to him, Malaysia had bigger chance of winning gold medals in the competition as stronger countries like Vietnam and Brunei did not send their teams. Esmelda was surprised with her performance as she didn’t put much hopes on winning gold medals at the meet.
“I didn’t set any target to give myself any pressure so I guess that’s why I could do well and I feel very happy and proud for being able to help Malaysia win glory,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the proud father Alfred Geling said that the seven years of strict training regime under Bogomil had paid handsome dividends.