Jump and swing to victory

Bahrain’s leading gymnasts sparkled once again as CHAOSS hosted the Manama Challenge for the fourth year, which also featured teams from Shams, JSA and Gymnastics Time based in the UAE, writes Abu George.

The competition featured all the artistic disciplines with difficulty levels and scoring based upon guidelines set by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastiques (FIG).

The sport is booming globally with participation levels at their highest for generations with parents recognising the perfect combination of strength, balance and co-ordination gymnastics provides, skills that transcend any sport.

Yara Ammar Ali impressed in the FIG 2 U9 category winning every discipline and, therefore, the overall, with a score that suggests a bright future in the sport.

Meanwhile, in the older U13 category Larah-Fay Sadi (3 golds) and Noor Al-Jandan (Gold Floor) dominated the top of the podium. In the next level up – FIG 3 – Almyne Booijse won gold at Vault, Bars and Floor to clinch the overall title with a score that would have secured success in the two older age-group categories too. Sofia Camacho Leyva (gold Beam) and Nakai Chihwayi (silver Beam, bronze Floor) also took home medals.

Yasmine Khadij (two silver and a bronze) was classed as second overall, narrowly pipping Chaoss colleague Nehir Sunkar (gold and two silver), as a result of a superior performance on the bars. Camila Camacho Leyva secured silver on beam in the U9.4 category with Jazal Abduljawad taking bronze.

Sofiya Cogswell’s Gold on beam and bronze on bars helped her win bronze overall in the FIG 4 category while Tia Maria Faadi finished third on Floor.

In the Copper-segment of the competition which featured the highest number of gymnasts (nine), Lucie Buckman was the only Bahrain-representative. Despite being aged only eight and competing against gymnasts up to five years older, she demonstrated tremendous poise, producing arguably the best-choreographed floor routine in the whole competition. Demonstrating the tough scoring only a single errant hand cost her a full mark and gold.

Katelin Reed, competing in the highest category of the Manama Challenge, bronze-level, had a tough task as she faced two silver-category gymnasts from JSA. However, she did not disappoint, claiming silver on the floor and beam resulting in bronze overall.

Cara Mathias, founder and owner of CHAOSS, said: “Gymnastics is a tough sport that teaches discipline and control. I’m delighted that the hard work and long hours of training paid dividends against the best in the region. I would also like to thank our coaches, staff and volunteers, along with all our sponsors.”

The sponsors were Gold – Al Osra, Paxton and Silver – Aqua Cool and Reza Hygiene.