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The Major Competitions in 2003 |
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Results
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2003 Rhythmic Worlds Trials (Universiade Trials & Asians Trials)
REPORT -Day 2- |
Report by Hiroko Yamzaki
(web published on Apr. 27,2003) |
DATE: April 20, 2003
PLACE: Yoyogi First Gymnasium
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| Murata's club performance |
The senior individual competition was expected to be close among 4 gymnasts:
Murata emphasizes her Japanese character using traditional musical instruments,
such as the Japanese drum. Nakamura has (and shows) good flexibility. Yokochi
shows a variety of tricky skills with great equipment control. Hayashi
has improved her accuracy in her most difficult stunts.
Murata was very solid throughout the day and finally won the trials. Following
Murata, Nakamura, Yokochi and Hayashi made the World Championships team.
At the Worlds, these four gymnasts will compete for the team competition
as well as for the individual competitions. They all have things to improve.
Murata will need complicated equipment control. Nakamura will need solidity
in equipment control and more experience in international competition.
Yokochi will need to relax in the first rotation in every competition.
Hayashi will need to brush up her equipment control and grace of performance.
If these gymnasts can improve these points, their level will go much higher.
In the last half of the junior individual category, the gymnasts lacked
skillfulness in their performance. Especially, on Ribbon, they often dragged
their ribbons or the ribbons knotted up. Above all, the gymnasts showed
some form breaks such as loose lower body, bent knees, poor toe-point,
tight shoulders, etc. These faults will result in big deductions, so we
hope that the gymnasts who aim to lead Japan in the future will correct
them as soon as possible. However, the audience must have been very impressed
by their performance in the very tense atmosphere.
The results were: First, Tanigawa, Second, Tsuboi.Third, Anakubo. Fourth,
Shoji.
Tanigawa topped with a very crisp performance, followed by Tsuboi, who
did not have hesitation in equipment control.
These four gymnasts will go to the Asian Championships which will be held
in China (the date has been postponed due to the SARS outbreak.)
in the senior group competition, Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education
won with a unified performance. They will go to the Universiade in August
at Daegu, South Korea.
COMMENTS
Yukari Murata:
"Today, it was tough physically, but a lot of practice helped me.
Today's performance was more solid than that of yesterday. The current
code of points emphasizes keeping good physical and mental conditioning.
My task is conditioning to perform my best routine in the competition,
and difficulties without mistakes. We will need to qualify to go to the
Olympics in the team competition of the Worlds. I'd like to increase my
skills and to become a world class gymnast."
Yachiyo Nakamura:
"I was very nervous and couldn't control my equipment, sometimes Moreover,
I have changed my routines on three events (except for ribbon,) and I couldn't
spend a lot of time practicing , but I believe I could do my job. I'm not
good at equipment control, so I'd like to improve that. It will be the
second time to represent Japan, but I'd like to do my best including the
elements that I couldn't show today because I was tense."
Ai Yokochi:
"I was nervous in the first rotation under the pressure of the trials,
but after the second rotation I think I could perform with originality
even though I made a few mistakes. I don't need to worry about missing
in the meets. I have physically powered up, so I'll think of distributing
my power throughout my routine, and I'd like to keep my difficulties. At
the Worlds, I'd like to have the consciousness of representing Japan, and
get a ticket to the Olympics together with the team."
Yoshie Hayashi:
"I still can't believe that I am now in this press conference (after
the trials). I'll maybe get nervous at the Worlds as a gymnast representing
Japan, but it has been my dream so I'm just glad to be here. I appreciate
the support from everyone and my coach, and will work hard in practice
as a member of the World Games team. I'm not good at equipment control,
so I'll practice especially focusing on artistic value. I'd also like to
increase my expression, which is still immature. "
back to REPORT of DAY 1
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