ELDREW Yulo leads the Philippines’ campaign in the 3rd International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
The brother of two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo looks for a respectable finish in his swan song in the juniors competition in front of Filipino fans.
The 17-year-old Eldrew is part of the last of the four subdivisions of the all-around qualifications which will start at 7:45 p.m. where also seeing action are Batang Pinoy products Hillarion Palles III and King Cjay Pernia in the horizontal bars.
Yulo will compete on floor at 8:07 p.m. along with Palles III and Pernia, pommel horse at 8:30 p.m., rings at 8:52 p.m., vault at 9:15 p.m., and parallel bars at 9:37 p.m.
Yulo on Thursday will seek to at least reach the finals in the apparatuses, but all eyes will be on vault where he once took the gold medal in the Asian Juniors Championships in Tashkent in 2024. He is also a silver medalist in the same event in 2023 in Singapore and 2025 in Jecheon.
Yulo said he is a lot ready compared to the Asian juniors in Jecheon physically and mentally through the guidance of Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya.
”Napakalaki po ng deperensya,” he said, referring to his build-up from the Asian juniors last June to now. “Ang dami ko pong routine na bago. I would rate this, out of 10, nasa 10. Inconsistent, but I will give my 100-percent.”
"Hindi ko na siya iniisip like before," he then added on playing in front of home fans. "Ngayon, coach Mune said that I have to enjoy this."
Palles III, brother of seven-time Batang Pinoy 2025 gold medalist John Andrew, is among the most promising gymnasts, along with Pernia, who already competed overseas in the 3rd JRC Artistic Gymnastics Stars Championships in Thailand where he placed third.
Elisabeth Antone, Sabina Tayag, Maxine Bondoc, and Jellian Bantilan are also part of Team Philippines in the girls side whose competition starts on Friday.
The world tournament formally opened on Thursday with no less than FIG president Morinari Watanabe formally unfurling the competition that drew 74 countries.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion were also in attendance during the opening rites.
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