HANOI — Swimmer Miguel Molina will head the Philippine campaign in the third Asian Indoor Games which blasts off Friday at the MyDinh National Stadium.

Molina, using the event as part of his preparations for the Southeast Asian Games in December, will arrive November 2 from his training camp in the United States. He will see action on November 4.

The American-trained Molina was named Most Outstanding Athlete in the last SEA Games after winning four gold medals.

A total of 4,000 athletes from 45 countries are disputing 219 gold medals in 21 sports.

The Filipinos are hoping to perform well in boxing, chess, bowling, wushu, and muay.

Two years ago in Bangkok, the Filipinos came home with only one gold from muay.

The participation of boxing, chess, bowling and muay is funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) which set aside close to P2 million.

The swimmers and wushu athletes are funded by the private sector.

The five-man boxing team is composed of Annie Albania, Migtchel Martinez, Alice Kate Aparri,Josie Gabuco, and Nesthy Petecio.

Leading the assault for chess are Grandmasters Rogelio Antonio, Mark Paragua and Women Fide Masters Catherine Perena and Shercila Cua.

The bowling team is made up of Engelbert Rivera, Constantine Chester King, Raoul Miranda, and Jonas Jason Baltazar.

Jay Harold Gregorio, Zaidi Laruan, and Maricel Subang will compete in muay. Actual competitions will start Saturday.

Boxing coach Glicerio Catolico said they are confident of their medal chances.

“They have a good chance bringing home the medals. They have the international experience and battle-tested,” said Catolico.

Albania won silver and Gabuco got bronze in the 2008 World boxing in China, Martinez and Aparri won silvers in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand and Petecio won the gold in the 2009 Guam-Philippine dual match.

Boxing will be held at Bac Ninh Gymnasium, bowling at Super Bowl Center in Ho Chi Minh City, muaythai at Rach Mieu Gymnasium Ho Chi Minh City, chess at Quang Ninh Gymnasium and wushu at Trinh Hoah Duc Gymnasium.

Jimmy Boharfa, the bearded 32-year-old physician from Oslo, Norway, serves as volunteer physician to national delegation.

“This is my first time here in Vietnam. I volunteered my services to the Filipino athletes because the Philippines has special place in my heart. I have a Filipino friend by the name of Dr. Camara. I am looking forward visiting the Philippines in the near future,” Boharfa said.