9 more make it to Asian Games roster

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines welcomed nine additional athletes into its fold as it gears up for its quest for glory in the coming Asian Games in Indonesia.

Five bets from medal-rich track and field and four young weightlifters belatedly got the nod of the POC-PSC Asian Games Task Force to join the initial 271 athletes approved for the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 quadrennial meet.  

Fil-Am sprint specialist Kristina Knott, who goes sub-12 seconds in the century dash, and another sprinter Anfernee Lopena, hurdler Francis Medina, sprinter/hurdler Clinton Kingsley Bautista and long jumper Janry Ubas were greenlighted as the newest members of the Phl Asiad squad in athletics.

They join Olympian Eric Cray, sprinter Trenten Anthony Beram, 800m specialist Marco Vilog, triple jumper Mark Harry Diones, decathlete Aries Toledo, pole vault star Ernest John Obiena, Olympian marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and Olympian long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, who had earlier been endorsed for the Games.

For their part, youth campaigners Eireen Ann Ando (63kgs), Maria Dessa Delos Santos (58kg), Ellen Rose Perez (48kgs) and Jeffrey Garcia made it to the weightlifting contingent, which initially had only Rio silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Olympian Nestor Colonia and fast-rising Kristel Macrohon in the approved roster.

Delos Santos, Ando and Perez snagged medals in the Asian Juniors recently to boost their stock and make a strong case for their inclusion.

In cycling, Lea Belgira, who competes in the mountainbike downhill event, was named to the delegation. She took the place of road race rider Marella Salamat, who gave up her slot to attend to her studies at University of the East.