Carlos Yulo takes another step towards a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics when the 10th Seniors Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships get under way today at the OCBC Center in Singapore.
The first event of the tournament is the men’s individual and team all-around with Yulo seeking to qualify in the medal round of the floor exercise, vault and parallel bars.
Also joining him in the tournament are Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games gold medalists John Ivan Cruz and Juancho Miguel Besana as well as Jan Timbang, Justine Ace de Leon and Jhon Romeo Santillan.
The national team is looking to improve its ninth place finish from the Doha edition as it vies for one of the five best spots to get into the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium this September.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said her wards are preparing as they brace themselves for a tough battle.
“We are getting ready for qualifications tomorrow. He (Yulo) is doing well and so are the rest of my athletes,” Carrion said.
Last year, Yulo took home three gold medals and one silver.
While Yulo is poised to do well again in the Asian tilt, he hopes his teammates will also be around to join him in Antwerp.
“There’s a chance we can qualify for the team all-around because Japan and China have already qualified. That leaves Kazakhstan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore and Chinese Taipei,” said Yulo, who is looking to make the top eight of the individual all-around.
“It looks slim but not impossible.”
