The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines believes rhythmic gymnast Breeana Labadan has what it takes to medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
With two-time world champion Carlos Yulo skipping this year’s Asiad to focus on the 2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp starting on 30 September, GAP president Cynthia Carrion said the 17-year-old is capable of a podium finish.
Labadan recently ranked 56th in the individual all-around of the world championships last August in Valencia, Spain.
“I’m sure that in our RG, Breeana Labadan can get a gold medal for us,” Carrion said.
“Miguel Besana and Ace de Leon are our representatives in the men’s artistic gymnastics so we’re hoping they can get a gold medal there.”
Yulo was supposed to banner the country in this year’s Asian Games to help jack up the Philippines’ gold medal tally.
But with the world championships, which have direct slots to the 2024 Paris Olympics at stake, starting a week after the Asiad, the 23-year-old gymnast simply had no choice but to back out.
Yulo will be accompanied by Filipino-American gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Kylle Kvamme along with Besana, who will be flying from China to Belgium after his campaign in the Asian Games.
Labadan will be entering the Asiad with international experience on her belt after joining the world championships twice, giving her a good chance against the likes of defending champion Alina Adilkhanova of Uzbekistan and silver medalist and Uzbek gymnast Sabina Tashkenbaeva.
