Hail Kayla! hail the sprint queen!

Chua is pool king, lady archers are victors too

HANOI – The fastest woman in the 31st Southeast Asian Games is from the Philippines.

As far as athletics is concerned, that’s all that matters for now.

Kayla Anise Richardson unleashed a big burst of speed in the final 20 meters or so and ruled the women’s century dash in 11.60 seconds.

The 24-year-old Fil-American punched the air after crossing the finish line and winning the precious gold yesterday at the 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium.

Singapore’s Pereira Veronica Shanti got the silver with a time of 11.62 while Supanich Poolkerd of Thailand took the bronze in 11.66.

“It was amazing being able to put it together,” said Richardson, who only a few days ago won the bronze in the 200m where her twin sister Kyla pocketed the silver.

It was a redemption of sorts for the native of Walnut, California, winning the century gold in the Games’ centerpiece event.

Her father, Jeffrey Richardson, and sister, Kyla, joined her on the track just moments after the race and handed her a Philippine flag.

“I’m grateful for my supporters – my dad and my twin sister and my coach who have been trying to put it all together this season. Being able to come out here today and make it happen, I’m so blessed and grateful,” she said.

“Thank you, thank you,” added Richardson, who also ruled the 100m dash in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

It was the fifth gold for the Philippines in athletics here in Hanoi following victories by EJ Obiena in pole vault, Eric Cray in the 400m hurdles, Clinton Bautista in 100m hurdles and William Morrison in shot put.

Richardson’s triumph is the biggest news of the day for Team Philippines which also struck in women’s team recurve in archery and men’s 9-ball singles.

Golds in archery, billiards

Pia Bidaure, Abby Bidaure and Phoebe Amistoso won the country’s first SEA Games gold in the recurve since the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games.

Over at the Ha Dong District Sporting Hall, Johann Chua defeated 2021 US Open and two-time SEA Games gold winner Carlo Biado in an all-Filipino final, 9-6.

Three gold medals for the day gave Team Philippines a total of 37 gold, 45 silver and 59 bronze medals – good for third behind Vietnam (118-72-69) and surging Thailand (46-55-73).

Battle for second

This SEA Games edition, the first during the pandemic, is fast shaping up as a battle for second overall.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, trying his best to be around each time Filipinos win a gold, said Filipinos are in the running for a podium finish following its overall win in 2019.

“Nandun tayo sa target na three and four. Kung ma-sustain natin ang No. 3 very good. And if mahabol natin ang Thailand (at No. 2), then the best,” said the POC chief.

“So far, so good,” he added.

Chua won his first gold medal in the SEA Games after bronze medal runs in 2015 and 2017. He said he felt this was his last chance to win the gold.

The 29-year-old Chua engaged Biado, SEA Games gold medalist in 2015 and 2017, in an entertaining see-saw battle at the Ha Dong District Sporting Hall.

The two Filipinos traded rack after rack and was levelled at 5-5 when Chua took the upperhand for good and won his first SEA Games gold.

Chua got on the hill at 8-5 and faced some serious threat from the 2017 World Games gold medalist and 2021 US Open champion, who took the 14th rack for an 8-6 count.

It was when Biado, who entertained the crowd with some world-class pocketing, hit a magical shot on the No. 7 ball, a jump from across the table. Then he missed what looked like an easy shot on No. 8.

Chua pounced on the opportunity to sink the last two balls. He fell on his knees after the winning shot and gave Biado, his roommate here in Hanoi, a big bear hug. Then he waved to the crowd.

“Sobra and kaba ko. First time ko lumaban sa finals dito sa SEA Games. Hindi ako maka-get over. Iba talaga pag flag and country,” said Chua after he delivered the second gold in billiards for Team Philippines.

“Nag-bibiruan nga kami kagabi sa kwarto ni Carlo sabi ko babalian na kita at pag humilik ka gigilitan na kita sa leeg. Sobra close kami niyan. Masaya na kasi kami