Over the first weekend of December 2017, pre-junior gymnasts aged 11 to 12 years from Singapore Gymnastics’ National Training Centre (NTC) Programme experienced their first Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) international competition at the 9^thMachida Friends Cup held in Tokyo, Japan. Even at the club level, competition was stiff – as expected of Japan, one of the leading federations in RG. Undeterred however, the team led by Coach Sara Ogiso and Team Manager Cecilia Chia pulled through, bagging a total of 1 bronze, 1 silver and 2 gold medals.

While both Ms Ogiso and Ms Chia were pleasantly taken aback by the unexpected podium finishes, they were extremely happy and proud of their young charges’ consistent and if not, outstanding performances. Said Coach Ogiso, “I was very surprised by (the results), but we have to try harder in the future.”

The girls were too, ecstatic with their results –  some even expressing unbridled eagerness to return to Japan for the 10^thedition of the Cup. On a more serious note however, they were immensely grateful for the opportunity to compete and attributed part of their success to acclimatizing via a particularly eye-opening one-week training camp experience hosted by the Tokyo Women’s College of Physical Education (TWCPE) right before the competition.