Gymnastics: WAPDA endure tough opening day

Army prove solid opposition at National Gymnastics Championship.

KARACHI:

Defending champions Wapda faced stiff competition from Army on the opening day of the National Gymnastics Championship underway at the Government College University Sports Hall in Lahore.

Army’s Syed Saifuddin led the floor, roman rings event with a margin of five points, while Wapda took the lead in the vaulting table event with seven.

The two-day championship is also featuring four provincial teams and departments of Pakistan Police, HEC and Pakistan Railways.

According to Pakistan Gymnastics Federation (PGF) official Shah Jehan Anwar, power breakdowns and the heat in Lahore made it tough to organise the event.

“We faced a few issues due to the heat and power breakdowns in Lahore on the opening day,” Anwar told The Express Tribune. “Gymnastics is an indoor sport and we had to make sure that the athletes are not nauseating due to exhaustion. We gave
them longer breaks. We originally planned to conclude four out of six events in the championship on the first day, but athletes needed more time.”

Meanwhile, the main attraction of the championship will be the individual events that feature roman rings and vaulting table.

National Games champion Shehzad said he is looking to beat his personal best of 8.6 points in both events.

“I’m happy that the national championship is finally happening after two years,” said Shehzad. “I’m hoping to break the national record. I’ve been practising since the National Games last year and I hope I can live up to the expectations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.