32nd Southeast Asian Games
PH ends Day 9 with nine gold medals, Ando shatters records, Filipino boxers deliver, and more
Nationals nab biggest gold haul
The Philippines moved up to fifth place in the current medal tally of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia after winning nine gold medals on Day 9, May 14.
Weightlifter Elreen Ando sparked the gold rush with her record-breaking performance, and boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Paul Julyfer Bascon stood atop the podium, helping the Philippines post their biggest haul within nine days of the biennial meet.
Earlier, the nationals had won seven golds on May 7.
Ando, who is said to be the successor of Hidilyn Diaz, broke previous SEA Games records in the women’s -59-kilogram class by setting new marks of 98 kgs in the snatch, 118 kgs in clean and jerk, and 216 in total at Olympic Stadium.
As expected, Tokyo Olympics 2020 silver medalists Paalam and Petecio defeated their opponents in the men’s 54kg and women’s 57kg, respectively, by unanimous decision to take the gold. Meanwhile, SEAG debutant Bascon clinched the men’s 60kg title via split decision.
In the full-contact padded stick events of women’s arnis, arnisadoras Charlotte Tolentino and Jedah Mae Soriano gave the nationals a pair of gold by topping the bantamweight and lightweight division finals.
Wrestler Jason Balabal ended his 12-year gold medal drought in the SEA Games by annexing the men’s Greco-Roman 82kg title at Chroy Changvar Convention Center. Balabal last reigned as champion in the multi-nation sporting competition held every two years in Palembang 2011 Games after ruling the 85kg category.
Judoka Rena Furukawa defended her women’s under-57 kgs title as she ousted Myanmar’s Chu Myat Noe Wai via an osoto-gari throw in the sudden death.
Sibol Pilipinas capped the Philippines’ glorious Day 9 campaign by obliterating their group stage tormentor Malaysia, 3–0, in the best-of-five finals to make it three in a row in the men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang dating back to the Manila SEAG 2019.
As of 9 am, May 15, the Filipinos overtook Singapore for the fifth spot with 46 golds, 72 silvers, and 86 bronzes, while the latter had 42 golds on top of 36 silvers and 55 bronzes.
Vietnam continued to tighten its grip on a second consecutive SEA Games overall championship with 107 golds, 91 silvers, and 94 bronzes. Thailand trailed the Vietnamese side by 16 golds, having won 91 golds, alongside 67 silvers and 88 bronzes.
Meanwhile, host Cambodia slid to fourth place with 65 golds, 61 silvers, and 103 bronzes, while Indonesia amassed 67 golds, 61 silvers, and 80 bronzes to occupy the third spot.
Originally published at https://radyonatin.com.
