THE country’s gymnastics campaign in the Hangzhou Asian Games suffered a double hit even before it could begin with the injury of medal hopeful Emma Malabuyo and young and promising Fil-Am gymnast Levi Jung Ruivivar being declared ineligible, according to gymnastics secretary general Rowena Eusuya.
“Malabuyo suffered a knee injury some weeks ago so is unable to join us while Ruivivar ineligible because of the residency rule required by the Olympic Council of Asia for the Asian Games,” said Eusuya, who lead the gymnastics contingent that left yesterday for Hangzhou, China.
Malabuyo was tipped as a top medal prospect after clinching the silver medal in the women’s floor exercise of the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Senior Championships last June in Singapore.
A former member of the US junior gymnastics squad Ruivivar, 17, whose father is a Hawaiian-born Fil-Am, had earlier announced on social media that she would be competing for the country in the Hangzhou Asian Games and would have definitely been an asset for the squad
With men’s gymnastics ace Carlos Edriel Yulo competing in the 42nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, an Olympic qualifying event, opening on Sept. 30 in Antwerp, Belgium, the country’s Asiad hopes in the men’s division rests on Justine Ace de Leon and Juancho Miguel Besana, according to Eusuya.
