Injuries stand between gymnast Sharul and another Asiad medal

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian gymnast Sharul Aimy is in a race against time to heal from injuries before the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which take place from September 19 to October 4. The 24-year-old, who secured a bronze in the vault at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, is battling a meniscus tear in his left knee and a shoulder injury.

Sharul admitted that since his return from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, he had to start training from scratch, stating, "I was shattered to know I have aggravated my injury again." The sports medicine practitioner provided Sharul with an injection to aid his training. Sharul's initial goal was to win a medal at this second Asian Games appearance, but given his injuries, he would be content merely qualifying for the finals.

In the Asian Games, he will face off against gymnasts from China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Sharul only has a month to recover, describing it as his "last chance" to compete in the Asian Games. Should he fail to recover after the injections, surgery could be the next step, a fifth time in a row. Sharul is the sole Malaysian male artistic gymnast competing at the Asian Games.

The country's female artistic gymnasts include Rachel Yeoh, Cadence Teh, Yeap Kang Xian, and Marissa Zaitul. Five women's rhythmic gymnasts will also represent Malaysia in the Asian Games.