The Philippines kicked off its bid for the overall title with a bang, as the country’s kickboxers assured themselves of eight medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday at the Bac Ninh provincial gymnasium.
Zephania Ngaya drew a bye for a guaranteed silver medal in the women’s 65 kgs class of full contact. She will take on the winner of the match between Huyinh Thi Aikvee of host Vietnam and Jessie Yothawan of Thailand in the final set on Friday.
Four more Filipina kickboxers also assured themselves of bronze after similarly drawing byes. But Renalyn Dacquel could advance to a potential bronze medal if she beat Boonpeng Kanwara in a women’s full contact -48 kgs class fight, set late Tuesday.
Gretel De Paz will battle either Le Thi Nhi of Vietnam or Pieter Fiandra Ariesta of Indonesia in the gold medal round of the -56 kgs, also of women’s full contact on Wednesday.
Claudine Veloso takes on Vietnamese Bui Hai Linh in the semifinals of the 52 kg women’s low kick class, and Gina Iniong clashes with Malaysian Radzuan Hayatun Nahijin in the semifinals of 60 kg women’s low kick event.
The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas headed by President Francis “Tol” Tolentino is hoping the seven bronzes and one silver medal will turn to gold medals on the final day of kickboxing.
Former wushu champion Jean Claude Saclag also assured himself of a bronze medal with a 3-0 victory over Souliyavong Latxasak of Laos last Sunday.
Honorio Banario and Emmanuel Cantores joined Saclag as potential gold medalists by disposing of their opponents on Monday night.
Banario authored a 3-0 win over Indonesian Tanoi Yermias Yohanes in the quarterfinals in male low kick -71 kg class and Cantores defeated Malaysian Ain Kamarrudin, 3-0, also in the quarterfinal phase of low kick -60 division to move on to the semifinals.
However, Daryl Chulipas succum bed to Indonesia’s Salmri Stendra, 0-3, in the men’s full contact 51 kg quarterfinals. (JNP)