18-05-2025
Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova reigns at Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian C'ships in Singapore
Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova put on a dominant display, winning three golds at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
SINGAPORE – Putting on a masterclass in poise, Uzbek gymnast Takhmina Ikromova showed just why she is one of the best in the continent with a dominant display at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Singapore over the weekend.
Holding the audience spell-bound at the OCBC Arena, the 20-year-old won the individual all-round category for a third time on May 17, regaining the title from retired Kazakh Elzhana Taniyeva following her 2022 and 2023 triumphs.
Ikromova racked up a score of 84.500 over the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon segments, while compatriot Anastasiya Sarantseva took silver with 83.850, ahead of Kazakhstan's Aibota Yertaikyzy (82.200).
On May 18, Ikromova picked up another two golds in the apparatus finals for the ball and clubs, drawing more cheers and applause from the audience as she demonstrated immaculate grace under pressure. Sarantseva and Yertaikyzy won the hoop and ribbon titles respectively.
Speaking via a translator, Ikromova said: 'I'm very happy with the results here at the Asian championships.
'The conditions here are different from our country and that was a bit of a challenge but overall my performance was good.'
Ikromova has been tipped for great things since announcing her arrival on the international stage with three gold medals in the Uzbekistan leg of the 2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, where she became the first Uzbek in several years to win the individual all-round and individual apparatus titles at that level.
The following year, she clinched both individual and team titles at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. While she finished 14th at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she added that she is 'not upset and moving on'.
Looking ahead, Ikromova added: 'In Paris not everything worked out, (but) let's see what happens next, for now I'm just training and preparing hard for the next competition.'
Her compatriot Sarantseva, meanwhile, is eyeing the 2025 world championships in Brazil, the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The 16-year-old, who has two golds from the 2023 Asian championships in Manila as a junior, said: 'I'm very happy that I was able to show a good result. There were (some) mistakes today that I will work on with my coach, but I'm satisfied.
'This time I didn't get some moves right and was probably a little confused, but it was an experience that will bring me more victories in the future.'
Singapore's Mikayla Yang competing in the ribbon category at the OCBC Arena on May 18.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
There were also cheers for the home competitors as Mikayla Yang, 17, claimed the highest finish for a Singaporean by finishing sixth out of 39 in the all-round category with a score of 76.750, having placed ninth in the 2024 edition in Uzbekistan. Compatriot Thea Chew (71.650) came in 15th.
Mikayla, whose sixth placing also met the Asian Games qualifying mark, said competing in front of a home crowd gave her a lift.
'The support that I got from all my friends and everyone, just being able to be here and watch me live is just amazing, she added.
'I definitely improved from my last competition, and I felt more stable here, even though there were some little mistakes, we were still able to push through.'
She also reached three apparatus finals in the hoop (fifth), ball (sixth) and ribbon (seventh) categories.
Next in her sights are the Milan leg of the World Cup from July 18-20 and the Aug 20-24 world championships in Rio de Janeiro if she is selected to take part.
'The target is definitely to be the top South-east Asian athlete in those competitions,' Mikayla added.
'And to have four clean routines with all my power and of course, for the SEA Games to bring home the gold medal.'
Of Mikayla's performance, Singapore Gymnastics chief executive Richard Gordon said: 'I think Mikayla has really stepped up. This is the first time that we've had such results and it's not just her.
'Our juniors have done well, they've made finals, which is very, very encouraging. It suggests that we've got a pipeline coming through.
'And with Mikayla, looking at next year's Asian Games, she's done herself the power of good for qualifying and being in a good position to attack the podium.'
In the junior competition, Singapore's Leia Yap and Lydia Lim placed 10th and 11th respectively out of 46 in the all-around category won by China's Wang Qi. Leia also qualified for the ribbon final, where she finished fifth out of eight.
This is the second gymnastics event of this stature hosted in Singapore after the Asian Artistic Gymnastic Championships in 2023, and Gordon said the feedback has been 'very positive'.
Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
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