Yulo rules all-around in Tashkent

MANILA, Philippines — With renewed vigor, Carlos Yulo once again raised hopes that he can deliver the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in gymnastics.

For the second time in less than a month, following his breakup with long-time Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo won the gold, this time topping the men’s individual all-around event in the AGU Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Thursday night.

The pocket-sized wonder from Leveriza in Manila amassed 84.931 points capped by his floor exercise magnificence where he garnered a spectacular 15.233.

“Cannot be happier as all others were doing well but in the end with his floor exercise where he got 15.233, he went to No. 1,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion yesterday told The STAR.

The two-time world champion subdued the field that included Kazakhstan’s Milad Kamiri and Uzbekistan’s Abdulla Azimov, who copped the silver and bronze with an 84.632 and 82.431.

It was the 24-year-old Yulo’s first individual all-around triumph in this event after settling for the silver in Singapore last year.