Youngster Eldrew Yulo placed outside of the podium in the men’s all-around during his first and only Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on Saturday night.
Eldrew Yulo was satisfied with his performance as he turned in a top eight finish in the men’s all-around final in Day 3 of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships here at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport, Pasay City on Saturday.
Yulo, competing in his first of four finals of the competition, threatened to break into the podium. But he struggled on the rings and pommel horse, making him tumble down to eighth overall at the end of the medal round.
The 17-year-old dazzled in his pet event Floor Exercise with a 14.300 to zoom to fourth place heading into the last two rotations — just one short of the podium. He was then provisional No. 1 following an early showing in the pommel horse where he scored 13.000.
However, it wasn’t meant to last as Yulo tumbled down the standings and headed into the final rotation still outside the podium.
With rings among the more difficult apparatus for Yulo he was unable to makeup the difference with a 12.066.
He then ended up 8th after all gymnasts had completed their rotations.
Russia’s Arsenii Dukhno nabbed the gold while Nao Ojima of Japan, who is the reigning junior champion in Asia, ended up second. China’s Lanbin Yang completed the podium at 3rd.
Yulo was off the mark by 3.300.
Still, Yulo was more than happy with what he was able to achieve in his first Junior World Championships.
“Sobrang saya po kasi 'yun nga, even though 'di ako nakapasok sa Top 3, I still managed to get the Top 8, or in the Top 10. I’m still proud of myself because I finished the qualification in 15th. But now, I finished eighth. Next time, I will do my very best to get into the Top 3,” Yulo told reporters after the competition.
“If 'di kinaya ng powers ko, it’s okay, I still have many events there. Sobrang saya ko po, promise.”
Yulo also revealed that he is nursing an ankle injury which he sustained at the start of the final in the all-around heading into Day 4 of the competition on Sunday where he competes in his pet event in the men’s apparatus final.
On Saturday, Yulo finished with the second best score in floor exercise among the 24 finalists in the men’s all-around.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.