Gold rush on Day One
CLARKFIELD, Pampanga — The Philippine team captured at least 14 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze medals for a total of 24 medals on the first day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) and took the top spot in medal tally followed by Vietnam with 3 golds, 8 silvers, and 5 bronzes.
The deluge of gold medals came less than 24 hours after a lavish opening ceremony at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, putting the country’s quest to capture the overall crown in motion with winning performances on other fronts as hostilities go full blast.
The gold medalists of the Philippine team yesterday were: John Chicano - men’s individual
triathlon, Kim Mangrobang – women’s individual triathlon, Agatha Wong – wushu taolo women’s taijiquan, Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen – dancesport waltz, Sean Aranar and Ana Nualla – dancesport tango, Sean Aranar and Ana Nualla – dancesport Viennese Waltz, Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen – dancesport foxtrot, Sepak Takraw team – women’s hoops event, PH Sepak Takraw (men’s hoops event), and Niño Mark Talledo – live stick men’s featherweight (arnis).
Wushu artist Agatha Wong paid tribute to a dearly departed teammate on Monday with a successful defense of her Taolou Taijiquan event in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Earning 9.67 points via swift and sharp performance, a visibly emotional Wong told the Bulletin that her latest win, held at the World Trade Center in Manila, was dedicated to Rastafari Daraliay, the 11year-old wushu practitioner who fell to his death from the top bunk of a doubledecker at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in September last year.
“I would like to dedicate my performance to my old teammate. This is for him,” said the regal-looking Wong, who also took the bronze in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
Brunei took the silver while Vietnam the bronze in Taolou Taijiquan. Wong’s gold was the second for the Philippines after tri-athlete John Chicano won in men’s individual, the SEAG’s first to be given away, in Subic Bay early in the morning.
Chicano’s showing would later rub off on teammate Kim Mangrobang and the host country’s bets in dancesport, arnis, sepak takraw and wushu as action intensified as the day wore on elsewhere.
A native of Olongapo Cty, Chicano, who settled for silver in the swim-bikerun event two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, clocked one hour, 53 minutes, and 26 seconds. It was a 1-2 finish anew for the Philippines as Kim Remolino of Cebu checked in second (1:55.03) and Indonesian Muhammad Ahlul Firman placed third (1:57.10).
About two hours after Chicano’s win at the Subic Bay Boardwalk in Zambales, it was defending champion Mangrobang’s time to shine as she clocked two hours and two minutes and was followed by the Fil-Am Kim Kilgroe, assuring the Philippines of a second straight 1-2 finish with a time of 2:05.02.
Indonesian Octaria Nechtavani was a distant third with a time of 2:16.33. Agatha Wong of wasn’t to be outdone
Chicano, known in the triathlon circle as Rambo, was ecstatic with his golden performance, after being relegated to silver two years ago behind Nikko Huelgas in Malaysia.
Chicano crossed the finish line waving a Philippine flag to the loud cheers of the Filipino crowd.
“I am really thankful for the support of the government and also the cheers of the crowd who welcomed me at the finish line,” said Chicano, who led most of the way.
Chicano also gave credit to his partnership with Remolino, who both made sure that the Indonesian entry would not close in on them.
“At least we were able to defend the 1-2 finish,” added Chicano, who will recharge his batteries before kicking off his 2020 campaign with a tournament in February.
Dancesport also sparkled with five gold, arnis contributed with two, and sepak akraw with one for a total of 11 at press time.
The winners in dancesport were Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla, the pair who grooved and glided their way to five golds in Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Five Dance events.
The tandem of Mark Jayson Gayon and May Joy Renigen also clicked in Standard Waltz and Slow Foxtrot.
In arnis, Dexter Bolambao and Nino Mark Talledo, meanwhile, won golds in the 55 kg and below and +55 kg and below 60 kg at the Angeles University Foundation.
Led by Deseree Autor, the women’s team in the hoop event of sepak takraw likewise struck gold in Subic Bay.
‘Beautiful memories’ at SEAG
The country’s “spectacular” opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games should set the tone for the handling of the tournament and hopefully generate “beautiful memories” for the country’s visitors, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo praised the extraordinary SEAG opening ceremony, saying the Office of the President extends congratulations to the organizers, performers, and volunteers for “a job exceedingly well done.”
“Undoubtedly, the ceremony demonstrated the redoubtable ability of the Philippines to host the biggest sporting events in the world and entertain our foreign guests with the kind of merriment that we Filipinos excel and are famous for,” he said.
“The Palace hopes that this event extraordinaire sets the tone for the handling of the Games until our foreign guests leave the country, bringing with them beautiful memories forever etched in their hearts,” he added.
He also said that the opening ceremony has “set the bar high for prospective hosts of international sporting events.” “For us, this ceremony should remind us that with unity, camaraderie and support, #WeWinAsOne. Cheers!” he said.
Weightlifting
Mary Flor Diaz bagged bronze in the first event of the Southeast Asian Games’ weightlifting (women’s 45 kg) at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday.
Diaz, 20, cousin of 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, made a total lift of 159 kilograms, 70 in snatch, and 89 in clean and jerk.
Vuong Thi Huyen of Vietnam bagged the gold with a total lift of 172 kilograms, 77 kgs in snatch and lifted 95 kg in clean and jerk.
Indonesia’s Setiawati Lisa came in second with a total lift of 169 kilograms, 73 in snatch, 96 in clean and jerk.
Diaz is the first athlete to see weightlifting action at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
According to Diaz, it took her three months to prepare for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. She also bared that two months before the SEA games, her father suffered a mild stroke.
“Sobrang laking panalo ito sa akin kasi first time ko at saka hindi ko in-eexpect. Lahat possible kapag may tiwala ka sa sarili mo. Hindi ko na naisip yung bigat, naisip ko na lang kung paano ko bubuhatin,” she said.
“Sa akin kasi gusto ko lang i-enjoy yung laro, at saka sinacrifice ko yung buhok ko para makuha ko lang yung timbang ko. Over pa ako ng .5, lahat ng pagod, worth it,” she added.
The 20-year-old Pinay weightlifter said that she dedicates her first win to the country.
“Siya po yung nagsilbing inspiration sa akin kasi ang lakas niya eh, Olympian, siya talaga nag-motivate sa akin,” she said.
The native of Zamboanga also won two bronze medals in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championship in China last April. (With Genalyn D. Kabiling, Joseph Pedrajas and Erma R. Edera)