KUALA LUMPUR: Teen gymnast Lee Wan Nin is only in her first senior year but she is ready to replace former international Elaine Koon in keeping the Malaysian flag flying high in rhythmic gymnastics.
The pint-sized 16-year-old has been named for the November SEA Games in Jakarta and the target is to win a gold medal. The other member in the team is lanky Amy Kwan.
Wan Nin, of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), has also been identified as one of the gymnasts capable of winning a ticket to the Olympic Games through the World Championships, which will be held in Paris in October.
The spotlight is now firmly trained on Wan Nin and Amy following Elaine’s early retirement.
Elaine, the country’s first gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year, quit the sport due to some problems with her coach Elena Kholodova.
Many have failed to handle the pressure of sudden fame but not Wan Nin.
The bold and confident lass said that “challenges, be it big or small, are part and parcel of a gymnast’s life”.
“There were expectations when I was a junior and it is the same now that I am in the senior rank. I will just continue to work hard in training,” said Wan Nin.
“I represented Malaysia as a senior for the first time at the World Cup in Paris (in April). I finished 18th out of 51 competitors and it was a good experience for me. It showed me where I stood among the world class gymnasts.”
Wan Nin hopes that a training stint in St Petersburg, Russia, next month would help strengthen her preparation for the SEA Games and World Championships.
“I have been improving in every tournament but I know that I still have a lot to work to do if I want to do well in my debut at the SEA Games and World Championships. I hope to hone my skills during the training at St Petersburg,” she said.
“This time, only one gold medal in the individual all-around is contested in the rhythmic competition at SEA Games. Usually, there are six gold medals on offer.
“That’s why this year’s SEA Games could be tougher than the previous editions.”
Although she has a realistic chance of doing well in the SEA Games compared to the World Championships, Wan Nin is still ready to give a go at the world meet.
Only the top 15 in the world meet are assured of places at the London Olympic Games next year.
Wan Nin and Amy are bring groomed by Kholodova to strike gold medals at the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014.
