28 nations for Asian gymnastics in Surat

Chandigarh, Jun 12 (UNI) Twentyeight countries are expected to take part in the third Asian Gymnastic Championships in artistic and rhythmic competition to be held at Surat from July 29 to August 3.

Punjab Gymnastic Association secretary P S Virk said gymnasts from China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Kuwait, Kazaksthan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, India, Mongolia and Jordan would be seen in action.

Narottam Bhai Patel, Gujarat Water Resources Minister, has been made the chairman of the organising committee.

Each country is allowed to field four men and four women gymnasts in artistic and four in rhythmic competitions.

Meanwhile, the Gymnastic Federation of India will hold selection trials on June 26 at Surat to select the Indian team for the Asian Championship. The Indian probables are attending a national coaching camp in Surat.

The PGA secretary PS Virk said that the Asian Championship was earlier scheduled for February this year. The change of date was necessitated as the International Gymnastic Federation has introduced new code of points from January 1 this year. The participating countries had pleaded that the time at their disposal to prepare their teams according to the new code of points was very less. The IGF extended the date of the third edition.

According to new code of points, two experts would be associated with the jury comprising four judges. The expert will announce the start value of an exercise before the event. The judges will calculate the errors in performance. Highest and lowest errors would be deleted. The remaining points would be subtracted from the start value to award points to a gymnast.

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