Headed for Tokyo

Carlos Edriel Yulo soars through the air in the men’s vault of the all-around qualifiers in the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Monday at the Hans Martin Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Janet Tenorio

Carlos Edriel Yulo has battled the best gymnasts in the world. He will do it again next year in a much grander stage after qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

There is much to celebrate about his feat, but even more work to be done, according to his coach.

“I was nervous and my legs were shaking,” said the country’s top gymnast after advancing to the finals of the men’s all-around and floor exercise events of the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany on Monday.

Yulo compiled 82.164 points from the six apparatuses to book an automatic ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Satisfied with Caloy’s performance but there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, who has mentored the gymnast for over six years.

Yulo, a 4-foot-11 dynamo who grew up in Leveriza, Pasay City, wound up 16th overall in the preliminary round out of the 20 Olympic qualifiers from 14 countries. He finished 18th out of 24 finalists in the all-around among 160 participants.

Yulo, who used to watch national gymnasts practice at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, is the second Filipino to qualify for the Olympics after pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

Obiena told a Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday that he is now focusing on nabbing a gold in the Southeast Asian Games later this year.

“I may have a slight edge but it’s a competition,” Obiena said. “Anything can happen. Hopefully I’ll be the one standing on top of the podium holding the Philippine flag.”