Asian Games: Minus Kayla Sanchez, PH women’s relay team reaches medal round

Teia Salvino at the Asian Games.–ASIAN GAMES POOL PHOTO

HANGZHOU, China—Even without Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez, the Philippine women’s relay swim team still managed to squeeze into the medal race of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

Two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi and Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino and Chloe Isleta finished third in the second heat of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay to secure a spot in the evening finals.

The quartet anchored by Isleta posted an accumulated clocking of three minutes and 48.06 seconds in the qualifying heat behind China’s 3:37.53 and Japan’s 3:40.89.

They will be booked in lane five during the finals where Singapore (3:46.67) is likewise a medal contender. Hong Kong (3:47.99) also made it along with India (3:53.80), Thailand (3:54.37) and Macao (4:05.62).

Jerald Jacinto and Filipino-American Jarold Hatch missed progressing to the finals of their respective events.

Jerald Jacinto finished 6th in his qualifying heat in the men’s 100m backstroke at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou pic.twitter.com/st7NWrvHwU

— June Navarro (@junavINQ) September 24, 2023

Hatch placed fifth in his qualifying heats in the men’s 100m freestyle with a time of 50.90 seconds while Jacinto ended up sixth in the men’s 100m backstroke, clocking 57.57 seconds in the heats.

Sanchez, who contributed to Canada’s silver and bronze medals in the relays of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, skipped the country’s qualifying heat in the women’s 4x100m freestyle and might be tapped in the medal race.

Debuting for the Philippines after switching federations, Sanchez owns a personal best of 53.12 seconds in the 100m free, an effort faster than previous Asian Games gold medalist Rikako Ikee of Japan (53.27).

She’s also entered in the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, events where the 22-year-old from Toronto, Canada is favored to medal.