After two disappointing displays in archery and shooting, Bangladesh finally have got something to tell in Olympics 2012 when gymnast Syque Caesar nearly made it to the final round on Saturday.
Syque missed pommel horse and rings events because of a torn bicep and yet finished 17th in all-round category which earned huge plaudits in gymnastic circle in London’s O2 arena.
He became the toast of international media after his show, high in standard, entertaining for spectators and surprising to fellow contenders who came from all over the world.
In the four events – floor exercise, vault, parallel bar and horizontal bar – his total score was 58.24 and if he could just participate in the other two events with an average performance he would have been in the final.
The last man qualified in all-round event final scored just a little over 80, which was easily gettable for Syque who had an average score of 14.56 in his four events.
But Syque already knew it was not going to happen as his bicep betrayed him. He had torn his bicep two weeks ago and was just hoping it to be okay by the time his turn comes in Olympics, but it was not.
So he had to skip two events and compete in other four events, where he had some expectations. He led his group in the qualifying rounds on a few occasions but missed his chance to move further when overall calculation was made for all three groups.
He, however, had no reason to regret.
‘I think I represented Bangladesh well,’ said a cheerful Syque. ‘I’m pretty satisfied with my overall performance, but in gymnastics you can always be
better. Overall I think I impressed the gymnastics community.
‘I think I was very close to making the final in parallel bar,’ he said. ‘I was competing with a completely ruptured bicep, there is noting here, completely disconnected.
‘I have done everything today with an injured bicep while a guy from France tore his bicep and was out of the tournament, I tore my bicep exactly two weeks ago.
‘In parallel bar that’s one of the best routine I have done ever. But again I missed it on the decimal count. In high bar I also can’t really ask for more, on floor also I have done fantastic, it’s actually the best floor exercise I have done in a week,’ he said.
Syque’s American coach Michel Corrigan also had little complaint.
‘I think he did a very good job today, in the parallel bar he finished 10th [only eight gymnasts made the final] and that’s 10th in the world with two sessions is pretty good. I am pretty happy with that.
‘If he had done a little better on the display he probably would have been in the final. I can’t really ask for any more,’ said Corrigan, who had been coaching Syque for months at the Michigan University.
‘On high bar his execution was very good and he ended up with a decent score. On floor he has got the highest score in our group. Somebody with a torn bicep two weeks ago it’s pretty good,’ said Corrigan.
Corrigan said Syque still could make it to the final if he was a well known figure to the judges, who sometimes overlook minor fumbles of best known gymnasts.
‘The more you tour around, the more you get known by the judges, they know your style and what’s coming in your routine, with that sometimes comes a little bit of leniency,’ he said.
‘They are always saying they are not partial. But it’s the best guys continue to make it,’ said Corrigan.
-With New Age input
