By Lily O. Ramos
MANILA, (PNA)– In an effort to further fast track its grassroots program, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, headed by former Philippine Sports Commissioner Cynthia Carreon has turned to Japan for help with 28-year old coach Munehiro Kugimiya from the Juntendo University popularly known for its School of Medicine, Health and Sports Science.
Kugimiya who is supported by the Philippine Good Works Foundation, the Japan-based Zippy Action Foundation and the PSC has been tasked to train elite and junior gymnasts in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)within a year to produce some athletes who will be ready to compete in the 2020 Olympics to be hosted by Japan.
Ryo Shirai of the Zippy Action Foundation on Wednesday explained to mediamen at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex the seemingly short stint of coach Kugimiya.
”We have different levels of coaching; someone of a higher level can come over the next year and so on and on to see to it that the boys will reach their highest potential with the best training stages they could get.”
Kugimiya’s credentials included a completion of a post-degree in sports science apart from being an international judge since 2009.
”I can train elite gymnasts and children interested to learn artistic gymnastics. I dream of instituting focused and high-performance training for the national MAG athletes to make them highly competitive.
“Initially in the Asian level at least, I would like to see more kids and teens in the gymn during weekends trying rounds of artistic gymnastics,” he said.
Bulgarian girls’coach Luminita Itpimu added that it takes years for five to 13 year olds to become a real gymnast because of changes in the body and individual growth.
“I have been training females here for a number of years; it would be better if they start at an early age for better synchronization of movements, bones and muscles, grace and flexibility which entails real hard work. Hopefully some of my wards will go to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Itpimu.
Carrion said she has been inspired to get more children interested in gymnastics that is why the GAP management has been exerting efforts to tap resources from private entities to help the sport that requires a big investment which the government may not provide.
”To widen our base of gymnasts and catch up with the best in Asia and the world, we are currently intensifying our fund-raising from untapped sectors because I believe there is a silent majority of affluent individuals, business corporations and executives who are willing to finance our programs like the Zippy Action Foundation of Japan,” Carrion said.
GAP presented some male kids from five to 13 years culled from different schools of Manila to become novice initiates under coach Kugimiya.