Diaz, Cray blow gold bids in Asian Indoor
Bowling gold medalist Christopher Yue
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Fil-American Eric Cray both failed in their gold medal bids, settling for a pair of silvers in the fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) at the Ashgabat Olympic Complex here Tuesday.
Diaz had a total of 204 points to place second behind China’s Liao Qiuyun (208) from the combined snatch, and clean and jerk in the 53kg category. Turkmenistan’s Kristina Skermetova took the bronze (196).
“I can still do it,” said the 26-year-old native of Zamboanga City who had thought of retiring from the sport.
Cray likewise finished second in the 60m dash as he clocked 6.63 seconds, behind the 6.55 seconds of reigning champion Hassan Taftian of Iran. Iran’s Reza Ghasemi got the bronze (6.64).
Long jumper Janry Ubas missed out on a podium finish as he placed fourth (7.40m) behind gold medalist Nguyen Tien Trong of Vietnam (7.48m), Amila Pedige of India (7.45m) and Chan Ming Tai of Hong Kong (7.44m).
In taekwondo, Kristie Elaine Alora and Kristopher Robert Uy dropped their matches in the semis and settled for bronze medals. Alora lost to Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Osipova (16-8), while Uy succumbed to China’s Liu Jintao (27-10).
Diaz was already down three points after her best score of 90 kilos out of three attempts in snatch to Liao’s 93. The two lifted similar weights of 110 kilos to start the clean and jerk.
Diaz failed to lift 114 kilos in her first attempt in the clean and jerk but was able to eventually carry the same weight on her third and final attempt. Her rival from China lifted 115 kilos on her second attempt to win the gold.
In women’s tennis, Anna Patrimonio and Khim Iglupas are playing in the second round at press time.
Patrimonio is up against Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia after beating Tuvalu’s Saintly Molotii, 6-1, 6-0, in the first round, while Iglupas is facing Thailand’s Chompoothip Jundakate after her 6-0, 6-1 win over Fiji’s Vienna Kumar also last Monday.
In men’s singles, Jason Patrombon lost in the first round against Uzbekistan’s Farrukh Dustov, 7-5, 6-2. Patrombon will still see action in the mixed event with Iglupas, who will likewise team up with Patrimonio in the doubles.
All Filipinos got wiped out in belt wrestling at the Main Indoor Stadium.
They included Joseph Angana (70kg freestyle), Michael Carter (55kg classic), Jonathan Maquilan (65kg classic), Grace Loberanes (50kg classic), Noemi Tener (60kg classic) and Chris Hofmann Jr. (90kg free).
- Latest
- Trending
