Yulo eyes redemption in world joust

MANILA, Philippines — Caloy Yulo seeks greater redemption from his Tokyo Olympics letdown when he competes in the 50th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships beginning today in Kitakyushu, Japan.

Yulo had a heartbreaking performance in the Tokyo Games as he finished 44th in the event where he was one of the favorites after winning the gold in the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 21-year-old Filipino came close to snatching a bronze medal in the vault event but eventually wound up fourth.

But in Kitakyushu, Yulo will go all out to bury the ghost of the past in the qualification round slated tomorrow and Wednesday. The individual apparatus finals will take place Saturday.

Yulo will have his hands full against a strong field that includes Japanese Daiki Hashimoto and South Korean Shin Jeahwan, who grabbed the gold in the all-around and vault, respectively, in the Tokyo Games.

Six-time world all-around titlist and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kohei Uichimura of Japan, a gymnast whom Yulo is looking up to, is also around.

Yulo has actually been doing great after the Olympics.

The Leveriza, Manila native hauled a pair of gold – floor exercise and vault – in the All-Japan Senior and Masters Championship last month.

Yulo has vowed to bounce back from his Tokyo fall and deliver the gold in the 2024 Paris Games.

He’s on the right track.