BAGUIO lass and Olympic hopeful Kareel Meer Hongitan fell short of her quest for an automatic slate in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo when she lost to the world’s number two in the last 16 in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch during the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championship in the Netherlands Thursday, June 13.
Hongitan lost to Taiwan’s Lei Chin Ying in the third round of the tournament and dashed her hope for the Olympic berth.
Ranked 79th in the world, Hongitan earlier upset 34th seed Melanie Gaubil of France, before taking down World Cup gold medalist Peng Chia Mao of Chinese Taipei to advance to the round of 16 against Lei, an Olympic bronze winner.
“My first match was against a player from France who ranked 34, I won. 1/64 round. My second match was against a player from Chinese Taipei who ranked 31, I won,” Hongitan said describing her rounds of 64 and 32 matches.
“My third and last game was against the world's rank two player of Chinese Taipei rin po. I lost,” added Hongitan of her last 16 matches in the event that drew 104 players of which she is the 79th seed.
Hongitan ended her Olympic bid with a good placing in the Continental Cup this November.
“Na-fill na po yung apat na slots for Olympics,” said the last standing Filipino in the Netherlands meet.
Only four slots were given in the women’s re-curve and eight for the team, she added.
“So sa Continental Championships naman po sunod, kasi mas slim po ang chance sa Olympics,” she said.
Hongitan is also eyeing a slot in the South East Asian (SEA) Games with the qualifier set late this month.
“We’re going to have a final selection for the SEA Games pagbalik namin ng Manila sa June 24 to 30 po,” she said as she looked forward to improving on her bronze medal in the team play in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
Hongitan, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management last month from the University of Baguio came short of claiming a seat in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2016, she played and rallied the Philippine women’s team to the bronze medal. (PNA)