IN a potential collaboration with the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann is keen on tapping highly-regarded Japanese gymnastics coach Munehiro Kugimiya for the PSC’s expanded grassroots programs in the countryside
“We actually have to introduce gymnastics in the grassroots. It is already publicly known when Carlos (Edriel Yulo) won two Olympic golds, and you were a big part of that,” Bachmann told Kugimiya when the coach paid a courtesy call at the PSC chairman’s office last week.
“Most parents think about basketball and volleyball. I want to open their eyes to other sports like gymnastics and this is where you (Kugimiya) can serve our country,” the PSC chief added during the dialog that included PSC executive director Paulo Tatad.
“We can take coach Kugimiya around the many local government units so he can talk to them because he is already known. If ever, he will be the first foreign coach who will join us in these events,” he stressed.
Kugimiya, now back in Japan, shared his chat with Bachmann last week on a Facebook post, saying: “I was so grateful for the opportunity to meet with the PSC chairman. We had a conversation about developing spots in the Philippines.
“There were times this past year when I wondered if my hard work (for local gymnastics) was worthwhile and if my efforts to contribute to the Philippines would have (a) meaning for me. My heart has been lifted. It feels like my work has mattered,” the coach said after his talk with Bachmann.
Bachmann said that should everything push through, “we can take the coach around the country like Cebu City or Dipolog (in Zamboanga del Norte) where there are gymnastics facilities. We can have him stay there for a while or have the children come over to Manila.”
Bachmann said that another option is for Kugimiya, who has a masters’ degree in sports science at the famed Teikyo University in Tokyo, can lead the gymnastics program at the National Academy for Sports, the national government high school for outstanding athletes, in Capas, Tarlac.
“It only makes sense because we won Olympic golds courtesy of Caloy (Yulo’s nickname). I will take this matter up with NAS executive director Joy Reyes,” Bachmann said.
Aside from being credited for the Olympic success of Yulo, also a two-time world champion, Kugimiya was also responsible for former national team standout Reyland Capellan clinching back-to-back gold medals in the men’s floor exercise of the 2015 Singapore and 2017 Malaysia Southeast Asian Games.
Capellan is now the head coach of the national men’s artistic gymnastics team.
With the help of the Japanese government, Kugimiya launched the Japan Cultural Grassroots Project in artistic gymnastics at the GAP training center at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on March 17, 2023.
Charging nominal fees, the course meant for beginners and recreational gymnasts currently has 182 enrollees.
“Before anyone wants to take up gymnastics seriously, we want to make the sports first fun for everyone,” Kugimiya explained when he began the project.
