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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider PH world-class athletes start medal bid in SEAG

PH world-class athletes start medal bid in SEAG

Published May 12, 2022 01:32 pm

Belated but hopeful, the 31st Southeast Asian Games formally opened Thursday night at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam with more than 5,000 athletes staking pride and honor in 526 events.

Members of the Philippines contingent hold their national flags during the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on May 12, 2022. (AFP)

The colorful opening ceremony showcased this edition’s theme, “Let’s Shine”, which will celebrate not only the camaraderie of the 11 member nations through sports but also the strength of a connected ASEAN community through these pandemic times.

The three-part show first showcased state-of-the-art technological presentation of Vietnam’s cultural identity, followed by a bamboo and flower dance exhibitions from hundreds of performers, as well as a drone show featuring the Games’ main logo. Then came the parade of colors and athletes with world-class pole vaulter EJ Obiena carrying the country’s flag along with around 30 athletes and officials marching behind him.

This edition of the biennial meet was originally scheduled late November 2021, but was moved to a later date due to the COVID-19 situation at that time.

The Philippines seeks to retain its overall title with the presence of world-class athletes that include the country’s first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Asia's best Obiena, world champions Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio, US Open Pool champion Carlo Biado, two-time Grand Slam Junior Doubles winner Alex Eala, and former world titlists Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit, among others.

Some events have already started last May 6, but majority of the sports will officially open Friday including badminton, 3x3 basketball, fencing, golf, artistic gymnastics, petanque, sepak takraw, table tennis, tennis, indoor volleyball, wushu, bodybuilding and e-sports.

Eyes will be on Yulo as he aims to eclipse his two-gold, five-silver medal finish the last time when the qualifying rounds of the men’s artistic gymnastics fires off Friday at the Quang Ngua Sports Palace.

Competing with him are Jan Gwynn Timbang and Juancho Miguel Besana Eserio.

Yulo is also competing in the men’s team event along with Timbang, Eserio, John Ivan Cruz, Justine Ace De Leon and John Matthew Vergara.

Six members of the kickboxing team also advanced to Friday’s gold-medal round that include Renalyn Dacquel, Gretel De Paz, Zephania Ngaya, Claudine Decena, Gina Iniong-Araos and Jean Claude Saclang.

So far, the kickboxing crew assured itself of two bronze medals after Honorio Banario and Emmanuel Cantores lost their semifinal matches Thursday night in the men’s low kick -71kg and -60kg divisions.

Rowers also resume their gold-medal hunt when they compete in four final events, while the men’s 3x3 basketball team of Brandon Rosser, Jorey Napoles, Reymar Caduyac and Marvin Hayes and the women’s crew of Afril Bernardino, Clare Castro, Janine Pontejos and Angel Surada also open their campaign at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.

The men’s team clashes with Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia while the women’s squad collides with Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

The men’s football team also tangles with Indonesia in football’s group stage at the Viet Tri-Phu Tho Stadium while the celebrated women’s volleyball team opens its bid against Malaysia.

A total of 641 athletes are competing in 38 of 40 sports in the two-week affair.

Related Tags

Southeast Asian Games
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