Miguel Molina

HANOI – Miguel Molina missed the chance of bringing a second medal after being beaten by Thailand’s Radomyos Matjiur for the bronze medal in the 100-meter individual medley Saturday at the close of the third Asian Indoor Games.

The 21-year-old Matjiur took the bronze in 55.51 seconds, relegating Molina to fourth in 55.51 seconds.

Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Gordiyenko won the event in 54.87 seconds while teammate Artur Dilman took the silver medal in 55.10 seconds.

Molina competed in five events and won a silver in the 200m IM and finished fourth in the 100m IM, fifth in the 200m free style and failed to advance into the finals in the 50m breast and 100m freestyle.
“I’m tired and disappointed,” admits Molina. “I felt I could have done better but it is what it is.”

He now looks forward to doing hard training in the next 30 days to get himself ready for the Laos SEA Games where he is the reigning gold medalist in the 200m and 400m Individual medley and the 200m breaststroke events.

“It’s work time when I get back. I will put on hard work, keep my head down and hopefully it will pay off. I still have a month to prepare for the Laos SEA Games where I hope to win at least one gold medal,” added Molina who flew back to Tokyo, Japan.

Philippines ended it with one gold, four silver and five bronze medals, good for 20th overall.

“We laud the efforts made by the athletes as the country achieved its best finish in the Asian Indoor Games. This is just a sign of good things to come,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping who released P2 million to fund boxing, chess, bowling and muay.

The PSC chief also pledged to give incentives to the medalists.

“The Asian Indoor Games is not a gauge of how we are going to perform in the SEA Games. It’s a good finish considering we only sent 23 athletes and competed in six sports disciplines,” said RP Chief of Mission Julian Camacho.

Boxing delivered the lone gold medal courtesy of Annie Albania while swimming with Molina, sanshou with Rhea May Rifani, boxing with Mitchel Martinez and muay Maricel Subang bringing home silver medals.

Muay Zaidi Laruan and Jay Harold Gregorio, boxer Josie Gabuco, sanshou Jennifer Lagilag and bowler Biboy Rivera contributed for bronze medals.