After a dismal performance in a recent international event, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is trying to convince sports officials that hiring foreign coaches may be the key to improving the competitiveness of Filipino gymnasts.

GAP president Noel Buenaventura said he has forwarded a request to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez to hire coaches from traditional gymnastics powers like Romania, Russia and China.

Last week, the RP national women’s squad lost miserably in the Pacific Rim Gymnastic Championships in the United States.

“We want to hire foreign coaches to prepare for the Southeast Asian Games in Laos next year. We think this is our only chance to make it big in the world stage,” said Buenaventura.

Although gymnastics has been scratched in the Laos SEA Ganes due to lack of facility, Buenaventura said he will joins the lobby for the sport to be played in Thailand.

Buenaventura said they are looking for a Romanian coach for the artistic event in the women’s junior and senior divisions and a Russian coach for the rythmic event in the women’s senior and junior divisions.

A Chinese coach is also eyed for the men’s national team, Buenavetura said.

“We have asked the PSC for financial support for the hiring of coaches, but it has yet to be approved,” Buenaventura said.

“It’s more than P1 million which also includes the expenses for the Vietnam Invitational in June.”

Junior gymnasts Frances Aundrey Munoz and Maria Victorina Recinto fell short in the artistic and rythmic games last March 27 to 29 in the Pacific Rim competition, both landing near the cellar.

Munoz had 42.82 points for 19th place in the 21-player field while Recinto got 45.05 for 16th spot among 19 players.

In the seniors division, Danica Calpatan (43.52), Sheryll Contillo (39.70) and Carla Dnise Dionisio (36.75) settled for 17th, 18th and 19th spots in the 19-player field of the rythmic event, while Cintamoni de Guzman was 19th among 25 players in the seniors artistic event.