Several Filipino athletes are just beginning their campaign in the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday, October 5 as the competition in Hangzhou, China winds out to its last four days.
Representatives in karate and jiu-jitsu open their respective bids while Eumir Marcial tries to deliver Philippine boxing’s first gold medal in these year’s Games in the men’s 80kg.
ASIAN GAMES: TEAM PHILIPPINES OCTOBER 5 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Eumir Marcial gets boxing silver after loss to Chinese foe in Asian Games
Eumir Felix Marcial from the Philippines, right, and China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan compete during the men’s 71-80Kg boxing final against Thailand’s Thitisan Panmot at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
HANGZHOU, China—Eumir Felix Marcial dropped everything and momentarily put off a thriving pro career just to be here.
Too bad he failed to complete the trek to the summit of the 19th Asian Games following a stinging blow against China’s Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke in their gold-medal brawl on Thursday.
Asian Games: Philippines with another sure podium in sepak takraw
FILE–Philippines’ Jason D. Huerte kicks the ball during the sepak takraw men’s match. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines is assured of at least another bronze medal in sepak takraw after securing a spot in the semifinals of the Hangzhou Asian Games men’s regu following twin victories on Thursday at Jinhua Sports Centre.
Team captain Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortuoste and Ronsited Gabayeron and reserves Mark Joseph Gonzales and Jom Lerry Rafael defeated Myanmar, 21-17, 21-9, before edging out India, 23-21, 21-17, to secure a top two finish in Group B, joining Thailand.
Philippines’ Sakura Alforte bags kata bronze in Asian Games karate
Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 – Karate – Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium KTE, Hangzhou, China – October 5, 2023 Bronze medallist Philippines’ Sakura Alforte poses during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Individual Kata REUTERS/Ann Wang
HANGZHOU, China—Sakura Alforte brought her act to the 19th Asian Games here and pocketed a bronze medal in the individual kata event of women’s karate.
The Southeast Asian Games champion got the approval of the judges, garnering 41.90 points in defeating Chien Hui Hsuan of Chinese Taipei (41.30) for a place at the medal podium.
Alforte, 21, almost flawlessly executed her Ohan Dai routine, pleasing nearly everybody at the packed Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Tim Cone all praises for Brownlee, Gilas after ‘miracle’ win over China
Justin Brownlee and Gilas Pilipinas celebrate victory after the men’s basketball match between Philippines and China in the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on October 4, 2023. (Photo by CHINASPORTS/VCG )No Use China.
MANILA, Philippines — Even Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone couldn’t stop marveling at Justin Brownlee’s amazing clutch plays that propelled Gilas Pilipinas to the gold medal match of the 19th Asian Games.
Brownlee unleashed 17 points in the final quarter including the go-ahead triple with 24 seconds left as Gilas Pilipinas completed a come-from-behind 77-76 win over defending champion and host China on Wednesday.
Meggie Ochoa wins Philippines’ second Asian Games gold
An emotional Meggie Ochoa celebrates winning gold in the Asian Games women’s 48kg jiu-jitsu in Hangzhou, China. -ASIAD POOL
HANGZHOU, China—Meggie Ochoa was running a high fever the past three days, feeling hopeless coming into her opening bout.
The two-time world champion shrugged it off and struck gold in the women’s jiu jitsu by downing Balqees Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates by advantage in the -48kg final on Thursday in the 19th Asian Games.
Tears of joy flowed as soon as Ochoa’s hand was lifted by the referee after their three-minute duel that rewarded Team Philippines its second gold medal in these Games.
China’s He Jie wins Asian Games marathon in dream come true
Gold medallst China’s He Jie celebrates after the end of the men’s marathon final athletics event during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on October 5, 2023. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)
China’s He Jie fulfilled a dream Thursday by clinching the Asian Games men’s marathon title, while determined Bahraini Eunice Chumba romped to the women’s gold medal.
He, who came 45th at the August world championships in Budapest, was neck-and-neck with North Korea’s Han Ilryong at the 40-kilometer mark of the Qiantang River Green Belt course.
China basketball fans pile in after latest loss to Gilas Pilipinas
Gilas Pilipinas celebrate victory as China team huddles after the men’s basketball semifinal in the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on October 4, 2023. (Photo by CHINASPORTS/VCG )
Fed-up Chinese basketball fans berated and mocked the men’s national team on Thursday after China’s agonizing 77-76 defeat to Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games semi-finals.
The hashtag “Chinese men’s basketball lost twice to the Philippines in 32 days” received 28 million views on Chinese social media site Weibo in the hours following Wednesday night’s loss in Hangzhou.
Tears of joy for Meggie Ochoa after winning PH’s second gold in Asian Games
Tears of joy. Meggie Ochoa wins gold in women’s jujitsu (48kg). It’s the 2nd gold for Team Philippines in the 19th Asian Games. pic.twitter.com/DcfqeB9Zty
— June Navarro (@junavINQ) October 5, 2023
Meggie Ochoa strikes gold in Asian Games jiu-jitsu
𝟐𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇!
Congratulations, Meggie!Jiu-jitsu fighter Margarita Ochoa pulled a magnificent comeback from her last appearance at the Asiad, bagging the 2nd gold medal of the country at the Women's -48kg at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China! pic.twitter.com/6dYdZi0fn9
— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 5, 2023
Jordan Clarkson, Chot Reyes react to Gilas’ stunning win over China
Gilas Pilipinas celebrates semifinal win over China in the 19th Asian Games. –POOL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes and Jordan Clarkson were among those who celebrated the Philippines’ first Asian Games final appearance since 1990 after Justin Brownlee anchored their amazing come-from-behind 77-76 win over defending champion and host China.
Reyes, who parted ways with the men’s national basketball program after their home campaign in the Fiba World Cup 2023 last month, took to Instagram to show his support to Brownlee, Gilas coach Tim Cone, and the whole team after advancing to the gold medal match of the 19th Asiad in Hangzhou.
Meggie Ochoa barges into jiu-jitsu semis, assured of podium finish
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Ju-jitsu artist Margarita Ochoa proceeds to the semifinals match of the Women's -48kg after a 2 straight-win, breezing through the elimination round of 16 and the quarterfinals!
Patunay ka na #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro sa #AsianGames2023! Good luck in the semis! pic.twitter.com/azxnbDeZ78— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 5, 2023
Filipino karate bets open strong in Asian Games
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Pinay karateka Sakura Alforte secures spot in the bronze medal match in the Women's Individual Kata after placing third with a 40.70 mark in the Round 2 Pool 2!
Ipakita mong #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro sa #AsianGames2023!#PSCatWork#parasainangbayan pic.twitter.com/crSK7kFuku
— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 5, 2023
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Up for another round of showing! Alwyn Batican advances to the next match after a 5-0 victory against On Tek Leong of Macao in the Karate Men's Kumite -75kg!
Congratulations, Alwyn! Ipakita mong #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro sa #AsianGames2023!#parasainangbayan pic.twitter.com/Aexmas4JZt
— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 5, 2023
PH sepak takraw team wins men’s regu opener
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Our sepak takraw team opens their men's regu campaign on a winning note after finishing off Myanmar, 2-0 (21-17, 21-9) at the #AsianGames2023!
Our squad carries a 1-0 standing in the preliminary group B before clashing India later at 2PM.#BidaAngBayaningManlalaro pic.twitter.com/IpBj6OrVM0— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 5, 2023
PH cyclist Ariana Evangelista fails doping test at Asian Games
FILE–Ariana Evangelista–PHILCYCLING PHOTO
Filipino mountain bike rider Ariana Evangelista has failed her doping test at the Hangzhou Asian Games and has been provisionally suspended, officials said Wednesday.
Evangelista, along with Uzbek cyclist Aleksey Fomovskiy, made it three failed doping tests announced in 24 hours at these Games.
The International Testing Agency said that Evangelista tested positive for the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO), which enhances performance.
Eumir Marcial KOs Syrian foe to earn Asian Games gold medal shot
Philippines Eumir Felix Marcial in blue comfort Syria’s Ahmad Ghousoon after defeating him in the Boxing Men’s 71-80Kg Semifinal bout for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Eumir Marcial isn’t in a hurry to jump into a mega-buck fight anytime soon.
He has the Paris Olympics to look forward to.
And with that being said, Marcial will now be using his future pro fights to sharpen up for his quest for the gold medal that matters most next year.
After Asian Games, Pat Aquino looking at Worlds for Gilas belles
Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 19th Asian Games.
The Gilas Pilipinas women saw action in their first Asian Games (Asiad) in 25 years, reaching the quarterfinals like they had targeted to do.
The Philippines ended its campaign with a 2-2 record to finish fifth in a field of 12 nations—a decent run for a program that had just earned a fresh invite to the continental showcase after sterling stints in various tournaments the past two years.
But coach and Gilas women’s program director Pat Aquino wants his charges to accomplish more that he is not about to rest just yet.
Carlo Paalam needs to make choice in Olympics bid
Carlo Paalam vs Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan in the Asian Games boxing quarterfinals. –POOL PHOTO
HANGZHOU, China—Carlo Paalam has gotten a taste of the literal tall odds he would need to face more on the road to Paris.
Bombing out of the 57-kilogram class in the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games boxing competition, Paalam is thinking of sliding back to his old 51-kg division where he snared a silver medal in the last Olympics—and where he has a better shot at making it back there next year.
He must make up his mind fast, as the clock is ticking with the World Qualification Tournaments for Paris set early next year.