Resurgent simonpures go for 3-for-3 in Asiad semis
GUANGZHOU—Flyweight Rey Saludar trained in the morning to sharpen a surprise weapon, anchored on his tested power, but would not reveal their plot against Doha Asiad bronze medalist Susa Katsuaki of Japan in their semifinal battle at the Foshan Gymnasium Wednesday.
Victorio, younger of the fighting Saludars, did overall priming, certain he would need to surpass himself to reach the finals.
He fights tough light flyweight Birzhan Zhakyphov of powerhouse Kazakhstan who is seven inches taller at 5-foot-8.
Annie Albania walked through her routine drills, determined and focused on her gold-medal mission here.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games champion fights Japan’s Aya Shinomoto, who is of the same height as Albania at 5-1.
“She can handle the Japanese slugger,” coach Roehl Velasco told the Inquirer at the Athletes Village on their return from training.
Velasco, bronze medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, also noted that Vic Saludar’s taller Kazakh foe, although armed with a respectable straight shot and a sharp hook, often leaves his body open.
“Sawa na ang Filipino sa silver at bronze, we really need a gold now,” Velasco stressed.
All Albania and the Saludar brothers need is win today to move into the gold-medal round of the 16th Asian Games here.
Rey Saludar, who bundled off his first two foes via first-round stoppage, may not need it but he is expected to test Susa’s mid-rib sack if the Japanese proves tough and elusive.
Victorio, who expressed surprise at the ease with which he dumped his Indian foe on Monday, may have to work doubly hard against his taller rival.
Victorio could always do a reprise of Albania’s feat that saw her going to the body starting the third round to soften her tall foe.
Albania had to resort to lateral cuts before digging into the body to soften North Korea’s Kim Hye-song Monday.
“On the whole, our three fighters are just relaxing here, waiting for their big assignments,” bared Ed Picson, executive director of the national boxing association.
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