Amy’s ribbon routine too classy to be denied gold
Saturday, 14 Apr 2018
Majestic: Amy Kwan Dict Weng performing her routine during the rhythmic gymnastics ribbon final at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre yesterday. — AFP
RHYTHMIC gymnast Amy Kwan Dict Weng bagged Malaysia’s first individual gold in eight years following the feat of her buddy Elaine Koon – but not after a protest.
There were tense moments in Malaysia’s camp when Amy was awarded only 12.900 points in ribbon for a classy routine at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.
It was the last apparatus final and Amy had only won a bronze in the hoop earlier.
Team manager Corine Beh paid US$300 (RM1,162) to protest and fortunately, her effort was successful. The score was revised to 13.200.
Amy screamed in delight and the Malaysian camp erupted in sheer joy.
“Finally, it’s a gold for Malaysia. I’m glad my team manager protested. I also had a low score in clubs when I felt it was one of my best,” said Amy.
Sie Yan managed a bronze with her score of 12.000 points.
Amy was happy to become the second Malaysian rhythmic gymnast after Elaine to win an individual gold. Elaine bagged a gold in the hoop at the 2010 New Delhi Games.
“Elaine is my good friend, we studied in the same school (Yu Hua Chinese primary school in Kajang) and trained under the same coach in the state.
“It’s great to follow her path.
“She is two years my senior. I posted about the Games on Instagram and she left a message that I can do it.”
With yesterday’s gold and bronze, Amy wrapped up her campaign with a total of four medals. She also won a silver in the team and a bronze in the individual all-around.
Malaysia won a total of one gold, three silvers and three bronzes, making it one of their best outings in the Games.
Earlier, Sie Yan put up a dazzling show to bag two silver medals in the ball and clubs.
In the ball, she scored 13.400 points.
Diamanto Evripidou of Cyprus took the gold with 13.800 points and Australia’s Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva took bronze with 13.250.
Sie Yan came very close to a gold in clubs. She posted 13.850 points but it was still 0.1 point lesser than Canada’s Sophie Crane.
“I flopped in the ribbon and clubs during the individual all-around but I bounced back today. I gave a more energetic and expressive performance – it worked,” added Sie Yan, who will now shift her focus to the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/gymnastics/2018/04/14/glitter-after-protest-amys-ribbon-routine-too-classy-to-be-denied-gold/#DhWXkhFOKTXgQC58.99
