SUKAN MALAYSIA 2013

2 July 2013

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS: Farah stars in Selangor win

  SELANGOR made it a double in the Malaysia Games team events when they defended their women's artistic team gold at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

 

National gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (pic) proved her pedigree with a standout performance which allowed Selangor, also represented by Letitia Ng Weiqi, Nur Afiqah Rosnan, Nur Azira Aziri, Nur Eli Ellina Azmi and Sarah Aneesa Mazwan, to clinch victory with a respectable 185.850.

Second place went to Sarawak's Esmelda Arecia Menti Alfred Geling, Linda Lin, Nur Amira Idayah Hayadi, Sufi As Sofiyah Kadir and Syahzani Izzati Wan Yusof who managed 182.750.

Malacca (Cheong Yan Ling, Deifrin Choo, Emily Tan, Tan Ing Yueh, Tracie Ang, Yap Chien Wen) settled for bronze on 179.550.

Selangor had on Sunday clinched the men's team artistic gold ahead of Penang and Pahang.
Despite her strong performance, which saw her emerge the top qualifier for individual all-around competition today with 51.65, Farah praised the Selangor team for their concerted effort in defending their title.
"We won the title by only a one point margin last year so stretch it to three points this time is a positive improvement for us," said the 19-year-old.

"I am very proud to have a strong team like this, not only the gymnasts, but also the team management and parents who have supported us.

"It was not easy to beat Sarawak as they have improved a lot since last year. They have a lot of quality and I am sure they will be a force in the future."

The victory sees Farah Ann, who is competing in her fifth Malaysia Games, take her personal haul in the competition to an impressive eight gold medals.

She, however, is hoping to make it nine through the individual all-around event today.

"My goal is always to go out and give it my best shot and hopefully do well. It would be nice to get a ninth gold medal here.

"However, anything can happen on the day and sometimes things do not work for you. It happens to even the top gymnasts in the world."

The men's and women's individual apparatus events will be held tomorrow.

By Fadhli Ishak

 

Read more: ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS: Farah stars in Selangor win - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/artistic-gymnastics-farah-stars-in-selangor-win-1.311369#ixzz2XqtSZ3hO

Ten Questions with Farah Ann Abdul Hadi

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi is one of the Malaysian national teams’ most experienced and well-known gymnasts.  Known for her beautiful smile and elegant gymnastics, she shines on floor and beam.  Trained by Ukrainian coach Nataliya Sinkova, Farah Ann struggled to overcome a serious back injury to earn her place on the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games team, a dream opportunity for her.  Both she and her sister, Katrina Ann, who is a diver, competed at these Games.  With a strong team, and the help of Farah Ann, Malaysia placed fourth at these Games, a massive improvement from their eighth place finish at the 2006 Games.

Farah Ann answered the Couch Gymnast ten Questions this week;

What is your coach always having to remind you?

My coach is always reminding me too straighten my knee’s and point my toes during acro skills. Another thing that my coach reminds me is to watch my weight.  Hehe..=D

What is your proudest moment?

My proudest moment is competing at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. This is my proudest moment because it is the biggest competition that I have ever competed in and also because I got to represent my country and make my parents proud. Other than that, when my friends and family found out that I was competing everyone gave me words of encouragement and wished me luck.  They also watched me compete on TV.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

My most embarrassing moment was when I was younger and I was competing.  I was competing on the vault and I just landed.  I wanted to stick my landing so much that I didn’t want to move my feet- until the point that I lost my balance and touched the floor! In the end I got a lot of deductions! Other embarrassing moments are sometimes when I walk around the gym I sometimes trip over mats and fall!

What makes you angry?

Things that make me angry are when I train and I do a skill and I can’t get it right. So, I keep doing it over and over again but I still can’t get it right. Also,  people who betray me and talk about me behind my back is another thing that makes me angry.

What makes you laugh?

Many things make me laugh. During training when I do something silly or when I slip up or my teammates do something funny I usually crack up laughing.

Sometimes when my coaches mimic how we do a skill or tell us jokes it makes me laugh.

Spending time with my team mates is always a laugh when we hang out or go for competitions together we always end up laughing our heads off.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

If I could have a superpower it would be the ability to fly. It would be really cool to do any acro skills because I wouldn’t land on my butt..haha….

If you had a whole day off to do whatever you wanted to do, what would you do?

I would spend time with my family and  go to the beach and scuba dive, or go catch a movie with my friends and just hang out.

If you could have the career of any other gymnast, who would it be?

It would be Nastia Liukin because she is an Olympic winner and it is my dream to go to the Olympics.

What makes gymnastics different from other sports?

I think gymnastics is a much more challenging sport and you have to be very focused and brave. What other sport needs you to propel your self in the air and be graceful and strong?

Farah Abdul Hadi 2010 Commonwealth Games Floor Team Final

Farah Ann Ab Hadi - Beam - Team - Pacific Rim Championships

Farah Ann Ab Hadi - Floor - Team - Pacific Rim Championships

Pacific Rim Farah An MAS FX