Hangzhou Asian Games

Don’t look now, but the Philippines is out to improve its performance in the 2023 Asian Games, which opened in Hangzhou, China last Saturday. The country tallied four gold, two silver and 15 bronze medals in Palembang, Indonesia in the last Games. Asian pole vault record-holder and world No.2 EJ Obiena is expected to snare the gold. Also expected to shine are Rio Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, and Tokyo boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial. Of course our very own Margielyn Didal, the 2018 skateboard gold winner, is also a cinch to win the gilt. However, world gymnastics champion Caloy Yulo, another gold potential, will not be around as he skipped the Games to participate in the World Championship in Antwerp, Belgium set late this month. The country is also looking at another gold in basketball with the Gilas Pilipinas who trounced China in the FIBA World Cup. But I’m sure the Chinese are itching to get back at their tormentors and they have the edge playing in their turf. Gilas will not have Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson this time, who’s getting ready for the NBA opening next month. Our women’s football team the Filipinas, who made waves in the FIFA World Cup, is expected to vie for the gold. Besides Obiena, PATAFA pins its hope on Robyn Lauren Brown who won the 400m hurdles in the 2023 Asian Athletics Championship and Eric Gray, eight-time SEA Games gold medalist and Rio Olympian. The Philippines has a 395-strong national team and PARA Games athletes. Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino said he’s hoping the country will surpass its 2018 medals.  Goodluck guys! Bring home the lechon este…. the gold medals.

New Gold Mine

There’s a new sports that Filipinos could excel, the obstacle course race (OCR). Just recently, Kevin Pascua of the Philippines blasted the opposition to emerge champion in the male OCR 100m event of the OCR World championship in Genk, Belgium. Precious Cabuya took the silver in the women’s division while Kaizen dela Serna pocketed the bronze. Early this year, two Filipinos Andrino Mahilum and Sandi Abahan became world champions in the Attitude OCR World Championship Mount Everest.