CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Spotlight on Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championship
CNA938 Rewind
From straddles to splits, to moving gracefully with ribbons, gymnastics is gaining ground in Singapore - and it's not just for kids. Cheryl Goh speaks with Richard Gordon, CEO of Singapore Gymnastics and Berfin Ors, Performance Director, about the upcoming 2025 Junior and Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships, and the local growth of the sport.
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Independent Singapore
20-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
Mikayla Yang from Team Singapore finished fifth in the hoop final at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships
Team Singapore's Mikayla Yang successfully placed fifth in the hoop final at the 16th Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships. This result has been the best yet achieved by a Singaporean gymnast at the tournament. Moreover, the 17-year-old athlete also placed sixth in the ball category and seventh in the ribbon event. With her impressive wins, Yang expressed: 'It was really special to compete on home ground. This was my first time taking part in such a major international competition in Singapore, and having my friends, family, and supporters in the crowd made the experience unforgettable. Hearing them cheer for me lifted my spirits and reminded me of how much support I have behind me. I'm happy with how I performed across the championships. I definitely felt an improvement from my last competition. While there were still some small mistakes, I managed to push through and stay focused. It was also my first time qualifying for three apparatus finals, so I'm proud I was able to perform most of them cleanly, soak in the moment, and represent Singapore with pride.' Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova, the Asian Games gold medallist, won first place in both the hoop and club events. Furthermore, Anastasiya Sarantseva, Ikromova's teammate, won gold in the ball, while Aibota Yertaikyzy of Kazakhstan won the ribbon category. Yang placed sixth overall in the All-Around category, with a score of 76.500 across her top three routines. The Singaporean followed behind Ikromova (84.500), Sarantseva (83.850), and Yertaikyzy (82.200). Other tournament updates Team Singapore's Leia Yap and Lydia Lim placed 10th and 11th in the All-Around competition at the Junior Asian Championships. More so, Yap also finished fifth in the ribbon final. Due to the great results from the Singaporean team, the CEO of Singapore Gymnastics, Richard Gordon, admitted: 'This has been a fantastic event for Singapore Gymnastics and for Singapore as a whole. It's only the second time we have hosted a gymnastics competition of this stature, and the first time we have done so for rhythmic gymnastics. The feedback has been very positive, about the event itself, about Singapore, and about Singapore Gymnastics. It reflects not just our standing as a top sporting nation, but also Singapore's growing reputation as a destination for major sporting events. We have also seen encouraging results. Mikayla has really stepped up, and this is the first time we have achieved performances at this level. But it's not just Mikayla, our juniors have made finals too, and that shows we have a strong pipeline coming through.' In the hoop event, Uzbekistan's Viktoriya Nikiforova won first place, with China's Wang Qi and Kyrgyzstan's Sofia Iarovaia finishing second and third. Kazakhstan's Akmaral Yerekesheva showed dominance by winning gold in the ball final and went on to win two more golds in clubs and ribbons. In the overall All-around standings, Wang Qi led the rankings with a score of 98.450, followed by Yerekesheva and Kuwait's Layan Behbehani. Kazakhstan won the senior group title with a final score of 48.450. South Korea came in second with 48.250, and Uzbekistan earned bronze with 48.200. See also 2026 Tour de France to begin with a team time trial in Barcelona In the Junior group All-Around competition, Uzbekistan won gold, scoring 45.300. Kazakhstan won silver with 42.050, while Malaysia won bronze with a score of 40.600.
Independent Singapore
07-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
Singapore to host 2025 Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
- Advertisement - Singapore is set to host the 16th Senior and 21st Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships from May 16-18, 2025, at the OCBC Arena in the Singapore Sports Hub. This event is being organised by the Asian Gymnastics Union and Singapore Gymnastics after the approval of the International Gymnastics Federation. It will bring together more than 150 top gymnasts from 20 countries in Asia for a thrilling competition. The return to Southeast Asia The 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships will be held in Southeast Asia for the first time in over 10 years. Singapore will have the chance to highlight its growing contribution to international sports and its support for gymnastics in the region by being the host country for this year's championship. Moreover, following the success of the 2023 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, this will be another step forward for Singapore to promote not just gymnastics, but sports in general in the country. - Advertisement - Dr Patrick Liew, President of Singapore Gymnastics, said, 'Bringing the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships to Singapore is a significant step in our ambition to grow the sport locally and strengthen our role as a trusted international host. This event gives our athletes and our community the chance to experience world-class gymnastics up close. We hope it will inspire the next generation, deepen appreciation for the sport, and showcase Singapore's readiness to deliver high-calibre events on the global stage.' Mr Richard Gordon, CEO of Singapore Gymnastics, also shared, 'The 16th Senior and 21st Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships being held here is not just a milestone for our athletes, it is a key moment for our entire high-performance ecosystem. Competing against Asia's best on home soil will elevate our gymnasts, as well as the technical quality of our coaches, judges, and event operations. It is an essential step in our lead-up to the SEA Games and an opportunity to align everyone in the system with the standards we want to uphold.' Athletes to compete Both senior and junior gymnasts will participate and show their skills in different rhythmic gymnastics events. In the senior individual competition, China's Wang Zilu, is expected to lead, having finished seventh in the all-around event at the Paris World Championships. The athlete will face fierce opponents such as Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova, who is a two-time Asian champion and the recent bronze medalist at the 2025 FIG World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. - Advertisement - Furthermore, in the Senior group event, the gold and silver medalists at the 2022 Asian Games, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, will have an intense rivalry. This championship will also play a key role as a qualifier for the 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 20-24, 2025. Singapore gymnasts to look forward to Mikayla Yang and Thea Chew will lead Team Singapore in the senior category. Both athletes have competed on the prestigious FIG World Cup circuit. Yang, who gained the highest ranking for a Southeast Asian athlete in the individual all-around event at the 15th Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships in 2024, is set to face a difficult challenge, with rivals including Laos' Praewa Misato Philaphandeth, who made history as the first Lao rhythmic gymnast to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Another rival would be Breanna Labadan from the Philippines, the first gymnast from her country to qualify for the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2023. - Advertisement - Yang noted, 'There's nothing quite like competing at home. My teammates and I have trained for years to reach this level, and knowing that we will be representing Singapore in front of a local crowd makes it even more special. The field this year is incredibly strong, but that just motivates us more. I hope young gymnasts watching will see what's possible and feel inspired to chase their own dreams.' In the junior competition, Singapore will be represented by Lydia Lim and Leia Yap. These young athletes are ready to gain memorable international experience at the event and make their names known on the continental stage. This championship will surely be a valuable opportunity for athletes to compete at a higher level. They could also learn from top gymnasts, which will help them hone their skills and continue to be better for future competitions.
CNA
22-04-2025
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Spotlight on Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championship
CNA938 Rewind From straddles to splits, to moving gracefully with ribbons, gymnastics is gaining ground in Singapore - and it's not just for kids. Cheryl Goh speaks with Richard Gordon, CEO of Singapore Gymnastics and Berfin Ors, Performance Director, about the upcoming 2025 Junior and Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships, and the local growth of the sport.
