Equipment poses biggest challenge for Malaysian gymnast Ng Chun Chen

Malaysian artistic gymnast Ng Chun Chen identifies adapting to the competition equipment as his primary challenge ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 24-year-old athlete noted the limited official training time available at the Arena Antarabangsa Glasgow, requiring all competitors to quickly familiarize themselves with the environment and apparatus to avoid errors during the actual competition.

Chun Chen possesses a high-difficulty vault routine that could offer an edge over his competitors. However, he stressed that this advantage is only meaningful if performed cleanly and consistently. "From the difficulty aspect, I don't think many gymnasts here perform the vault like I do. That might give an advantage, but I still need to do my best," he stated. "If the difficulty is high but the execution isn't good, the result is the same. So, I need to remain consistent."

His preparation has been somewhat impacted by not being in peak physical condition and having a shorter adjustment period due to a late arrival in Glasgow. Despite these challenges, Chun Chen remains optimistic. "For now, everything is still manageable, and I can still adapt to the equipment and the competition venue," he said. "When competition day arrives, we have to give our best. There's no room for excuses, and whatever happens, we have to face it."

Drawing on his experience from previous international competitions, Chun Chen understands that equipment varies significantly between countries and continents. This experience has prepared him for the main challenge: adapting as quickly as possible. The artistic gymnastics events are scheduled from today until Tuesday, with Malaysia also fielding Muhammad Sharul Aimy and Luqman Al Hafiz Zulfa in the men's squad, and Rachel Yeoh, Yeap Kang Xian, and Cadence Teh in the women's team.