SEA Games: Bronze Marks Swansong For Joe Ee

From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

BANGKOK, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Two-time Commonwealth Games rhythmic gymnastics gold medallist Ng Joe Ee has decided to call it a day as a national gymnast after finishing with a bronze medal in the individual all-around event at the SEA Games Thailand 2025 in Pathum Thani, today.

Joe Ee collected a total score of 96.890 points after completing all four apparatus – hoop, ball, club and ribbon – during the final at the Gymnasium 5, Thammasat University Rangsit Campus.

The 20-year-old shared the bronze medal with Thailand gymnast Piyada Peeramatukorn while Jasmine Althea Romelo from the Philippines danced her way to the gold medal (102.180 points) and Mikayla Yang of Singapore took home the silver (101.490 points).

Targeting gold in her final appearance, Joe Ee admitted nerves got the better of her early on after costly drops in the first apparatus, hoop, derailed her hopes.

“I think I was too nervous for the first apparatus. I think I'm giving myself too stressful because I kept targeting the gold and it shouldn't be like that.

“It’s quite sad for me because this is my last game. I was targeting the gold, but for my first apparatus I did very bad. But then another three I did well, so I could get back the score,” she told reporters after the medal ceremony, here today.

Reflecting on a career that began when she first represented Malaysia at the age of 13, Joe Ee said the journey in rhythmic gymnastics has been a long one, marked by different phases and emotions over the years.

She recalled feeling energetic and fearless as a teenager, able to perform demanding routines with ease, but admitted the physical toll has become harder to manage as injuries piled up.

With her body no longer responding the way it once did, she felt it was the right time to step away and make peace with her decision to retire.

“My body cannot take it anymore because, I have my back pain and now I have quite a new injury on my ankle. When I jump and land on my left leg, and then when I balance, it’s painful. I endured this pain for almost a month already,” she said.

Asked about her future plan, Joe Ee said she will be having a transition into coaching next year, though not with the national team.

As she passes the baton, Joe Ee voiced confidence in Malaysia’s next generation of rhythmic gymnasts, urging those who truly love the sport to chase their dreams.

In the meantime, Malaysia had to settle for two silvers in group exercise (ribbons) and group exercise (three balls and two hoops).

The national team comprising Carol Na Yuan Qi, Valerie Ng, Maia Ong Xiao Han, Bernice See Qin Nin and Syamimi Amalia Shahrizam amassed a total score of 17.660 points behind gold medallist Thailand with 21.230 points in group exercise – one type of apparatus.

In their group exercise (three balls and two hoops), Malaysia posted 22.500 points, but were edged out by Thailand by a narrow 0.400-point margin, while the Philippines took bronze with 13.270 points.

Team manager Afrita Ariany Nasril admitted being disappointed over the missed gold in the latter event for the first time since the 2017 edition, adding that a protest was lodged but ultimately rejected.

The SEA Games Thailand 2025 is taking place from Dec 9 to 20 across two provinces: Bangkok and Chonburi.

-- BERNAMA