ALTHOUGH admitting pressure, Karl Eldrew Yulo is optimistic he will thrive in front of the hometown crowd during the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, set for Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
“I hope I can make a good performance because I want to be one of the best junior gymnasts in the world,” said the younger sibling of Paris Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference room of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“This is my major international competition this year, and, with the help of God, I want to show the world my best,” added Yulo, who trained for a month in Nagoya, Japan under noted Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, with Gymnastic Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion by his side during the same session.
“I won’t be putting any pressure on Eldrew, so I would be happy if he wins a silver at the world juniors,” said Carrion.
She was proud that despite bids from other nations, especially Europe, the country would stage the global gymnastics showcase after the International Gymnastics Federation, known by its French acronym FIG, awarded the hosting rights to the Philippines during its Congress last year in Doha, Qatar.
The GAP chief, who played a vital role for the older Yulo in clinching a golden double in the Paris Olympics, said close to 80 countries and 600 athletes will see action in the meet during the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, Milo, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
Besides the younger Yulo, the other Pinoy bet at the world juniors will be US-based Elisabeth Antone, who bagged the bronze medal in the Asian junior gymnastics meet last June in Jecheon, South Korea.
Carrion explained that since the country was unable to field entries in the second edition held in Antalya, Turkey, two years ago, only the 36 top countries in the previous competition were allowed to field teams.
“So we are limited to one athlete in the boys’ and girls’ categories,” she said.
She has high hopes for both local gymnasts since they will be performing in front of Filipinos.
“You know how inspiring our Filipino fans are so we expect them to root for both Yulo and Antone during the world juniors,” she said.
Yulo, 17, said he is motivated to do well in the competition since this will be his last outing as a junior player before moving up the senior ranks next.
“This is going to be my first and last time competing in the world juniors and the Philippines, yet. Next year I will be competing as a senior, so may konting pressure,” acknowledged the athlete, who won a vault bronze medal in the Asian junior tournament.
Carrion said this is why she had sent the young gymnast to train under Kugimiya “because I believe that he can be our best now at the world juniors, although the other countries will also like to put their best foot forward.
“Karl will be returning to Japan to train with coach Mune (Kugimiya’s nickname) until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.”
Carrion was grateful to Japanese FIG president Morinari Watanabe for convincing the board to award the hosting rights to the Philippines following the elder Yulo’s triumphant Olympic stint in the French capital last year.
“They (FIG) gave it to us because we produced (Olympic golds). It would be nice for the Philippines to see a (world) champion in the Philippines. It will be fantastic for us Filipinos if Karl can pull this off,” Carrion noted.
