KUALA LUMPUR: High flying rhythmic gymnasts Lezane Tan and Valerie Ng were again in full flow for the Federal Territories as they swept all four gold medals in the individual apparatus final at the Malaysia Games yesterday.
Lezane came out tops in the hoop and ball apparatus after scoring 23.200 points in each event, while Valerie took home the gold in the clubs and ribbon apparatus after amassing 21.700 and 22.050 points respectively.
Lezane and Valerie, both 14, were also part of the all-around team that won gold a day earlier at the National Sports Council (NSC) Gymnasium 1 in Bukit Jalil.
As national athletes, Lezane and Valerie were in a class of their own, and it may take a while before their dominance is broken by other states, as all four silver medals also went to the Federal Territories.
"We are happy to have upheld our status by winning gold and silver in all four disciplines. Despite our lack of practice in the last two years due to Covid-19, we still managed to do well," said team manager Clarissa Lee.
"We can see the other states trying to keep up with us, but our achievements only prove that we have been working really hard," she added.
Apart from Lezane and Valerie, the other Federal Territory gymnast who shone was 12-year-old Nur Zhafirah Wong Rudy Kurniawan, who finished second to Valerie in the clubs apparatus on 21.550 points.
"I'm really excited because I didn't expect this. I'm just here to gain experience. Who knew I would score so well," said the pint sized Convent Bukit Nanas student.
RESULTS
INDIVIDUAL APPARATUS
Hoop: 1 Lezane Tan Li Hwe (FT) 23.200pts 2 Valerie Ng Zi Yi (FT) 21.250pts 3 Nicole Cheng Qi Ern (Pen) 20.950pts
all: 1 Lezane Tan Li Hwe (FT) 23.200pts 2 Valerie Ng Zi Yi (FT) 21.900pts 3 Nicole Cheng Qi Ern (Pen) 21.600pts
Clubs: 1 Valerie Ng Zi Yi (FT) 21.700pts 2 Nur Zhafirah Wong Rudy Kurniawan (FT) 21.550pts 3 Jasmine Low Jia Thong (Sel) 20.900pts
Ribbon: 1 Valerie Ng Zi Yi (FT) 22.050pts 2 Lezane Tan Li Hwe (FT) 21.600pts 3 Jasmine Low Jia Thong (Sel) 21.150pts