PETALING JAYA: Top woman artistic gymnast Tracie Ang (pic) is down with an ankle injury but she is determined to quickly overcome the setback in a bid to make a strong impact at the Indonesia SEA Games in November.
Tracie, who fractured her ankle during the Asean School Championships in Singapore last month, needs another two to four weeks to get back on her feet.“It is unfortunate that I got injured during the floor exercise routine at the Asean school meet. Today, I removed the cast and the doctors assured me that I will be able to train full swing in two to four weeks,” said Tracie.
“I have never won a gold medal for the country in the SEA Games and I hope to achieve it. But first, I hope to recover quickly so that I can compete in the World Championships in Tokyo in October. I will not allow this injury to dampen my spirit,” she added.
Prior to Tracie’s injury, the Malaysian’s gymnastics elite programme had suffered a major setback following the premature exits of two women artistic gymnasts – Cheong See Teng and Chan Sau Wah.
See Teng and Sau Wah’s early retirements have diluted the depth in the women’s artistic team.
The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) secretary N. Shanmugarajah confirmed See Teng and Sau Wah’s early retirements on medical grounds.
“There is nothing we could do. See Teng is carrying a shoulder injury and she will also have to go for surgery. Sau Wah is down with an ankle injury and she told us the pain is unbearable,” said Shanmugarajah.
“Their absences will certainly diminish our chance to have a golden harvest in the SEA Games. The others will have to step up if we harbour hopes of winning a few medals there.”
Sau Wah was Malaysia’s gold medallist at the 2007 Korat SEA Games while See Teng was touted to be the country’s top star following her domination in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) and National Championships for several years but injury had always prevented her from competing in major meets.
In the absence of See Teng and Sau Wah and a half-fit Tracie, the others currently in the women’s team are Farah Ann Hadi, Noor Hasleen Fatihin Hasnan and Nur Ily Ilyana Azmi.
The gymnasts are training under Russian coaches Natalia Sinkova and Mikhail Gutsalyuk.
The men’s team of Mohd Irwan Miskob, Mohd Akmal Hakim, Mohd Azlanshah Ismail, Lum Wan Foong, Hairi Zaid and Mohd Hamzahruddin Nordin are currently in China attending a training stint as part of their preparation for the World Championships and the SEA Games.
