Teen Manzano hard at work for first Asiad stint

Ancilla Lucia Mari “Charlie” Manzano

Ancilla “Charlie’’ Manzano is not leaving anything to chance in preparing for the 19th Asian Games (Asiad) just to make sure that she puts in her share for the Philippines which has never won a gymnastics gold medal in the quadrennial meet.

“This is my first Asian Games. It’s going to be a really good experience and a challenge, but I’m up to it,’’ Manzano, who trains six times a week and mostly twice a day, told the Inquirer.

The 16-year-old from Quezon City is one-fourth of the nation’s women’s artistic gymnastics squad where a medal for them in the coming Asiad in Hangzhou, China, isn’t far-fetched—but they’re going to shoot for the gold, naturally.

Manzano will join hands with United States-based Emma Lauren Malabuyo, Kursten Lopez and Lucia Gutierrez during the Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 meet with the team’s confidence at a high.

“We’re always working on becoming better than the last competition, so by the time the tournament comes, we can perform at our best,’’ said Manzano, whose forte is the vault and balance beam.

Best PH quartet ever?

This current crop, including world championship-bound Aleah Finnegan and Kylie Ann Kvamme, has been unrivaled compared to the previous quartets for the country.

“The girls that we have now are the strongest that we’ve ever seen. With the energy around them, it shows in their character that these girls are highly motivated,’’ said national coach Naomi Soco.

The confidence is understandable following a fifth-place team performance in the recent Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore, where the Philippines wound up just a tenth of a point (0.13) from landing a medal. China, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan topped that event.

Champions in the women’s team event during the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Team PH wasn’t able to defend the title after host Cambodia scrapped the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics this year.