Hurting Dagmil ready to defend SEAG gold

Slowly getting back in shape, long jump specialist Henry Dagmil expressed optimism Thursday that his hamstring injury won’t be an issue in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Dagmil has barely a month to fully recover and defend the gold medal he won in the event two years ago in Burma (Myanmar).

The injury sidelined the SEA Games record holder over a month ago, forcing him to skip the National Open on March 26.

“I’m 80 percent ready,” said Dagmil, who has joined the strength and conditioning program of the Philippine Olympic Committee. “I’ll just have to give it all during the Games.”

Coach Arnold Villarube, however, said they are not sure about Dagmil’s chances this time as either Thailand’s Supanara Sukhasvasti or Pham Van Lam of Vietnam can pull off an upset.

Sukhasvasti won the silver in Burma with a leap of 7.71 meters and Lam took the bronze (7.53) behind Dagmil’s 7.80.

“I’m confident that Henry will perform well. But we’re not really sure about the gold,” said Villarube, a former decathlete medalist in the 2007 Games.

Villarube said the 33-year-old Dagmil’s target is a jump over 7.80 in Singapore.