Grospe soars, bags gold in Beach Games

SANYA, China – After two days of competition, Team Philippines has already matched its gold haul from 10 years ago and stoked its drive to third place overall in the 6th Asian Beach Games here.

Leonard Grospe copped the country’s second mint after ruling the men’s high jump event while the other Pinoy bets began their quest for glory on a cold and rainy Friday here.

At press time Friday, the 45-nation medal race showed the Philippines running third with a 2-0-1 tally behind second-running the United Arab Emirates (2-1-1) and host China (4-2-1) with still five days left in the Games making their return after a 10-year lull.

Grospe, 24, cleared 2.05 meters on his first attempt as the Dilasag, Aurora native gave Team Philippines – supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission – its second gold.

The Philippines won two gold, four silver, and 15 bronze medals in the Da Nang, Vietnam edition in 2016.

Last Thursday, Jiu-jitsu’s Alexandra Luz Enriquez clinched  the gold in the women’s 63-kilogram competition.