University athletes begin medal quest; Jins among PH’s top hopes

TAIPEI—Team Philippines’ hunt for medals in the 29th Summer Universiade starts Sunday with the archers, judokas, swimmers, weightlifters, taekwondo jins and lone diver testing their mettle against the world’s best student athletes at Taipei Stadium.

Ann Janeth Garcia and Danielle Noreen Sacbibit will also banner the Filipinos’ campaign in the seven-day taekwondo competition set at Taoyuan City Arena.

Also bidding to duplicate Samuel Thomas Morrison’s silver medal finish in taekwondo in the 2011 Shenzhen (China) Universiade are Glenn Harold Salgado, Erson Macatangay, Gabriel Joshua Ancheta and Peebles Jerkin Pintuca.

Archers Loren Chloe Balaoing and Shanaya Rose Dangla also target medals in the five-day event slated at Taiwan Sports University Stadium.

The judokas composed of Rainer Zaparita, Boniwell Amistad, Fred Aclopen, Norvy Estalin, Jazlen D. Awitan and Sylvia Carame of Cordillera open their bid at Hsinchi gym.

Over at Tamkang University gymnasium, weightlifters Elien Rose Perez, Kurk Kuffka Abala, Clark Cuico and Elie Perez Jr. will show their strength.

Monique Ann Demaisip is the country’s lone entry at University Taipei Diving Pool.

Medal-rich swimming gets underway with the first batch of the 47-strong Filipino contingent joining the qualifying heats.

The 160-strong PH delegation joined Saturday’s parade. Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ Angel Ngu served as flag-bearer. Also present were Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines’ David Ong and Alvin Tai Lian and Col. Ariel Querubin, representing main sponsor San Miguel Corporation.