Hoe displays his vaulting ambition

SINGAPORE – Ten years ago, the Singapore women’s artistic gymnastics side clinched their first-ever team gold at the 2005 South-east Asian Games in the Philippines before repeating the feat in 2007 and 2011.

Since then, the women have continued to dominate the spotlight, with veteran athlete Lim Heem Wei blazing the trail for female athletes.

Lim, who retired from the sport last December, went on to win a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, before becoming the Republic’s first gymnastics representative at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

However, with the 28th SEA Games set to return to Singapore from June 5 to 16, the Singaporean men are plotting to steal the spotlight from their female counterparts.

Artistic gymnast Hoe Wah Toon, 26, is ready for his chance to shine on home soil following his historic bronze medal achievement in the men’s vault competition at last year’s Commonwealth Games. It was Singapore’s first-ever medal in the routine.

Hoe had been appointed the pledge taker for the 749-strong Singapore contingent at the Games Flag Presentation ceremony on May 12 and will begin his quest to win his first SEA Games medal at Bishan Sports Hall on June 6.

“Most of my friends, peers and former classmates don’t know what my sport is about ... no one knows what (men’s) gymnastics is, so this is a good opportunity to get more Singaporeans to watch us,” Hoe said.

Despite three appearances at the SEA Games in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and one outing at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, medal success has eluded Hoe. He took a three-year break from the sport during his National Service before returning to compete in Palembang in 2011. It was at last year’s Commonwealth Games that he finally broke his duck.

Hoe will compete in six events at the Games’ gymnastics competition, and he added: “This SEA Games is a lot bigger than the Commonwealth Games and is more stressful for athletes. I’m definitely looking for a podium finish (in the men’s vault).

“Our men’s team is the strongest I’ve seen and we have never been this ready. Vietnam and Thailand usually finish in the top two, but we have a good chance at finishing on the podium.”

While the women’s artistic gymnastics team are gunning to repeat the Republic’s gold-medal feat in 2011, the women’s rhythmic gymnastics side is aiming for a historic gold in the group all-round event.

“We want to win the gold at this SEA Games. We have been training really hard and, because it’s on home ground this time, we want to show Singaporeans what we can do,” said Ann Sim, 20, who won the Group Event 4 Ribbons bronze at the 2010 Asian Junior Championship.

Singapore Gymnastics will field its largest-ever contingent of 20 athletes, who will compete in all 16 events in the sport and the athletes can expect stiff competition from their ASEAN rivals.

The sport last featured at the 2011 Games, where Vietnam finished at the top of the medal tally with 12 gold medals, while Thailand and Indonesia were second and third respectively with five and one gold.

“I hope to see the women’s artistic gymnastics team defend the gold medal. Even though we have Nadine Nathan who competed at the Youth Olympic Games, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam are looking strong,” said Singapore Gymnastics’ vice-president Lee Hong Chuang yesterday.

“For the men’s apparatus, a few of them look good, but they have to perform well on the day. Gymnastics is not like other sports such as swimming as we have three different disciplines. My wish for them is to be able to perform all their routines well, do them neatly and cleanly with minimum deduction of points and, overall, we should do well.”