National gymnast, Izzah seeks refreshing start in Birmingham commonwealth games

19 Jun 2022 01:00pm

National rhythmic gymnast, Izzah Amzan was undoubtedly hard-hit by her failure to take home any medal from Hanoi SEA Games, last month.

KUALA LUMPUR - Time to move on and start anew.

National rhythmic gymnast, Izzah Amzan was undoubtedly hard-hit by her failure to take home any medal from Hanoi SEA Games, last month.

Despite gaining the third spot in the women’s individual all-around qualifying round in the biennial games in Vietnam, it was still not enough for Izzah to make the cut to the final round.

This was due to the fact that only the top two best gymnasts from each country can qualify to the final round which saw her teammates, Koi Sie Yan and Ng Joe Ee take the two spots.

However, Izzah, who helped the national team to secure silver in the team event at Gold Coast 2018, vowed to make amends by going all out in her second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, this time in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to Aug 8.

"Definitely after the SEA Games down a bit, did not get what I wanted it SEA Games’s failure has on fire me up more. I just want to refresh to get myself prepared in action again.

"Our main target is to get gold or at least defend our silver in Birmingham,” she said when met recently.

In the meantime, the 21-year-old informed that she will be participating in the 2022 Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, slated to be held from June 23 till 26.

Asked on her target in Pattaya, Izzah said she and her teammates would try their best to reach the final as she described the competition as more intimidating than the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Gymnastics Federation (MGF) secretary-general Afrita Ariany Nasril said after the Pattani stint, the national gymnasts will head to Azerbaijan for a training programme from July 3 to 20.

This, Afrita said, will be followed by competition and final training in Belarus before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had earlier set a target for rhythmic gymnastics to take home a gold medal in Birmingham, together with weightlifting, squash, lawn bowls and powerlifting while it is hoped badminton will deliver two gold medals. - Bernama