Flexible Iman perfects her rhythm

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FACT FILE

Name: Iman Iskandar Chan
Date of Birth: 21 March 2000
Ht: 1.35m Wt: 24kg
School: SJK(C) Serdang Baru 2 (Year Three)
Hobbies: Singing, dancing
Ambition: Teacher
Coach: Elena Mesheryakova

Achievements:
2008- Passed Grade One and Grade Two
2009- Passed Grade Three
- South African Gymnastics International rhythmic gymnastics girls’ Elite One freehand silver medal and overall bronze medal

Sweet outing: Iman delivering respectable results in her first appearance at international level.

PINT-sized Iman Iskandar Chan produced respectable results to savour a sweet first appearance at the South African Gymnastics International rhythmic gymnastics in Durban recently.

In her debut at an international competition, the nine-year-old Iman settled for the second spot in the girls’ Elite One freehand and also went on to finish third overall.

Selangor development programme coach Elena Mesheryakova said Iman could have done better in the overall standings with more convincing display in the hoop.

“We expected her to deliver because she was well prepared for it. It was a tight contest and the difference in scores of the top three gymnasts in the category was also very close. Considering that she does not get to compete at local competitions until she reaches the Pre-Junior category, it was a great exposure for her to gauge her strength against her peers from other countries,” she added.

Two years ago, Mesheryakova identified the SJK(C) Serdang Baru 2 Year Three pupil when the foreign coach from Uzbekistan went on a talent scouting drive to recruit young trainees for the state training centre based at the school in Seri Kembangan.

“The top junior gymnasts from training centre inspired me to take up gymnastics seriously. I want to emulate their success. I am eager to learn and pick up more tricky routines. I am aiming to improve on my personal performances,” said Iman.

Currently, Iman is training up to five times a week and each session runs for three hours.

Mesheryakova is preparing the group comprising 15 young gymnasts aged between seven and 15 years to secure their places in the national team.

Despite making a breakthrough at the recent competition, Mesheryakova said it would be premature to predict on Iman’s potential in making an impact at higher level.

After making steady progress in the Grade One and Grade Two assessments last year, Iman passed her Grade Three this year.

And she is gearing up for the Grade Four evaluation.

“She has good physical attributes including the flexibility and co-ordination. Since joining the training programme, she has improved and is coping with the pace. But, the requirements for Grade Four will be more difficult and she needs to be stronger to overcome the tougher elements in all the disciplines,” Mesheryakova added.