Jesson Ramil Cid, New Ironman of SEA Games

PHILIPINNES UPDATED. Decathlete Jesson Ramil Cid and steeplechaser Christopher Ulboc Jr. stamped their marks on Wednesday as track and field bets continued to spark the Philippine campaign in the Southeast Asian Games.

The 21-year-old Cid amassed 7,038 points to rip the national mark (6,963) set by Fidel Gallenero in 2001 and get proclaimed as the new ironman of SEA Games.

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The 23-year-old Ulboc ended the 10-year reign of compatriot Rene Herrera in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as athletics raised its gold output to five, a vast improvement from its two-gold haul in the 2011 Jakarta SEAG.

Cid, an education major from Far Eastern University, where Ulboc also studies, capped his impressive showing with a clocking of 4:36.10 in the 1,500 meters of the 10-sport discipline.

“I’m strong in running and it somehow compensated for my deficiency in throwing events,’’ said Cid, a prize find from Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

Ulboc clocked 9 minutes 01.59 seconds to beat Tien San Pham of Vietnam (9:02.50) and Thailand’s Patikarn Pechsricha (9:04.04).

Herrera, winner of the event since the 2003 Vietnam games, was fourth in 9:09.14.

“I wasn’t really expecting this. It’s my first gold medal in any international event,’’ said the middle-distance runner from Tangub City, who pulled away after the water jump in the last 150 meters.

Earlier gold medals from athletics came from Henry Dagmil (long jump), Christian Archand Bagsit (400 meters) and Eric Shauwn Cray (400m hurdles).

“I was leading all the way but I strained my calf during the final lap,’’ said Herrera.

Filipino-American Jessica Bernard copped the bronze in women’s steeplechase after clocking 11:04.84, a minute slower than Indonesia’s Rini Budiarti (10:04.54).

Katherine Khay Santos cleared 5.93m and landed fourth in women’s long jump, the same placing of Filipino-American counterpart Tyler Ruiz.

Bad Report Card for Malaysian Athletics at SEA Games

MALAYSIA UPDATED. Thailand have shown progress in the track and field competition by winning 17 golds and breaking five SEA Games records to become overall champions for a record eight consecutive time.
 
While 39 Malaysians, comprising 26 men and 13 women athletes, struggled to win four golds – one short of their target.

A total of 45 gold medals were at stake in athletics and Malaysia had a haul of 4-6-3 here, which is their worst ever performance in the history of the Games since 1959.

Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) set a target of seven golds in July but reduced it to five last month and yet they failed to achieve even that.

MAF should take the blame for failing to achieve the target.

SEA Games Athletics Medal Tally
	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Thailand	17	13	9	39
Vietnam	10	11	12	33
Indonesia	6	4	7	17
Philippines	6	4	3	13
Malaysia	4	6	3	13
Myanmar	2	4	7	13
Singapore	2	3	3	8
Laos	0	0	2	2

Team manager Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh denied that they had failed in the Games, saying MAF cannot be blamed for failing to achieve the target.

“We are just unlucky to not be able to achieve the five gold medal target,” said Wan Hisham.

“Some of our athletes did really well by breaking four national records but, unfortunately, of that only one managed to win the gold.

“The four are young athletes and they definitely have a bright future. We will be banking on them to deliver the golds in the next SEA Games in Singapore in two years’ time,” said Wan Hisham, who is also the MAF deputy president.

However, Wan Hisham admitted that countries like Thailand and Vietnam have improved a lot and have also broken SEA Games records.

“Thailand and Vietnam are up to the Asian standards while our athletes are still struggling to win golds in the Games.

“We will review the whole training programme structure and also evaluate the athletes’ performance to see how we can help them improve their standard,” said Wan Hisham.

Judging by the performance of the Malaysian athletes in Naypyitaw, none of them can qualify for next year’s Asian Games in Incheon in September.

However, four young male athletes did exceptionally well in Myanmar.

Debutant Mohd Irfan Shamsuddin, at only 18, broke the men’s national discus record by more than three metres to win the gold medal. He hurled a distance of 53.16m, erasing his previous mark of 49.90m to qualify for next year’s World Junior Championships in Oregon, United States.

The 19-year-old Iskandar Alwi of Johor, who made his debut, also rewrote his record in the men’s pole vault with a jump of 5.10m, to improve his old record by nine centimetres to win the silver.

Sarawak’s Jackie Wong Siew Cheer, 21, shattered his own record in the men’s hammer throw with 59.75m, erasing his old mark of 58.52m to bag the bronze.

The 22-year-old Mohd Hakimi Ismail of Perak did exceptionally well to break the 24-year national record of 16.29m in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 16.44m. He also had to settle for the silver.

Nauraj Singh Randhawa, 20, also did well to win gold in the men’s high jump with a height of 2.17m.

But, the toast for Malaysia in athletics was 27-year-old Mohd Jironi Riduan, who did not even qualify for the Games. He did really well to win his first two gold medals in the Games – the men’s 800m and 1,500m.

However, MAF have to look for a replacement for him as Jironi has quit from competing in the middle distance races.

He wants to feature in the marathon from next year.

Malaysia used to dominate the athletics competition in the Games but now they are very far behind their neighbours.

MAF must start cracking their heads to find ways to improve the athletes’ standard in the Games.

They must buck up and learn from neighbours Thailand the ways to improve in athletics.
thestar.com.my

Bagsit Powers To Second Victory

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Archand Christian Bagsit pulled off a phenomenal run in final leg of the men’s 4×400-meter relay to become the second Filipino double-gold medalist at the 27th Southeast Asian Games here. 

On a day when golds on the track proved elusive, the quartet of Isidro del Prado Jr., Julius Nierras, Edgardo Alejan and Bagsit put on a swashbuckling performance that capped a productive stint for Philippine athletics.

The PH quartet clocked 3 minutes 09.32 seconds to beat Thailand (3:09.81) and Malaysia (3:15.06) and improve on its silver-medal finish in 2011 Indonesia.

Only Del Prado, who replaced Junrey Bano, was not a member of that foursome.

“All the hard work paid off,” said the 22-year-old Bagsit, who also ruled the men’s 400m. “I never thought we could win it.”

Trailing by a several meters after receiving the baton from Nierras, Bagsit, a financial management major at Letran, chased the last Thai runner and surged ahead in the last 50m.

“When I reached the final straight, I knew that the gold’s ours,” said the protege of two-time Olympian Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito.

After five days of action at Wunna Theikdi Stadium here, the Filipinos have seized six gold, four silver and three bronze medals, a vast improvement on their 2-9-5 collection two years ago.

Apart from Bagsit’s twin victories, long-jumper Henry Dagmil, Eric Shauwn Cray (400m hurdles), decathlete Jesson Cid and Christopher Ulboc Jr. (3000m steeplechase) also contributed to the most productive stint by a PH national sports association here.

Princess Superal was the country’s first double gold medalist here after ruling invididual play while powering the country’s team to victory in women’s golf.

Cray earlier placed sixth in the men’s 110m hurdles. The Filipino-American from University of Oklahoma clocked 14.34 seconds in the race won by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet (13.72).

“It’s not my event,” said Cray. “I fared bad.”

In the men’s 1,500m, Melvin Guarte placed fourth with a time of 3:58.43 and Ulboc landed seventh out of eight runners (4:05.76). Vietnam’s Van Thai Dong ruled the event in 3:58.02.

Fil-Am Jessica Barnard finished last out of four runners in the women’s 1500m (4:22.64) won by Vietnam’s Thi Thao Do in 4:22.64.

Benigno Marayag placed fifth (15.59 meters) in men’s triple jump won by another Viet, Van Hung Nguyen (16.67).

Inquirer.net

Switch From Basketball to Track Pays Off for Former Terrence Romeo Teammate Bagsit

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Unknown to many, two-time Southeast Asian Games double gold winner Archand Christian Bagsit was part of an elite batch — not in athletics, but in basketball.

Before switching to track, Bagsit actually played for Letran's juniors team in the NCAA, where he was a teammate of GlobalPort star Terrence Romeo and Gilas cadet member Kevin Alas, in the Squires' 2007 team.

Romeo eventually moved to Far Eastern University before getting drafted in the PBA earlier this year, while Alas stayed on at Letran, before becoming a member of the national team in the SEA Games.

Other notable players from that talented 2007 Squires squad are University of the East’s JM Noble and National University’s Glenn Khobuntin.

While unheralded in that batch, Alas recalled that Bagsit was one of the fastest and hardest working players on that Squires squad.

“Siya ang pinakamasipag sa team. Pinakamabilis at hindi napapagod,” said Alas, who, like Bagsit, also won a SEA Games gold when Sinag Pilipinas bagged the country's 16th gold medal in men’s basketball.

Bagsit's talent obviously made him perfect for athletics.

While his other teammates made a name for themselves in basketball, Bagsit became part of the athletics team in Letran before making the grade on the national team.

After winning silver in the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Bagsit finally claimed not just one, but two gold medals as he ruled the 400-meter run in Myanmar before, joining forces with Isidro Del Prado, Julius Nierras, and Edgar Alejan in a golden performance in the 4x400m run.
gmanetwork.com

Vietnam Secures Second Place at SEA Games

VIETNAM UPDATED. Vietnamese athletes had a successful competition day at the on-going 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Myanmar on December 17 as they brought home a total of six gold medals.

With this result, the Vietnamese team continued to secure its second place at the Games with 49 gold, 43 silver and 56 bronze medals. Thailand took the lead with 64 golds and Indonesia came third with 45 golds. Host Myanmar dropped to the fourth position with 42 gold medals.


The first good news of the day came to Vietnam in the early morning as long-distance runner Nguyen Van Lai emerged victorious in the men’s 5,000m event.
 
But the impressive victory of the day came from sprinter Vu Thi Huong, given that she has been out of the spotlight for the past two years and faced grave doubts over her ability to return to the winner’s podium.
 
She reclaimed her gold medal in the 100m strongest event and her sixth gold medal in the history of SEA Games.
 
The hat-trick of the Vietnamese track and field was fulfilled by Do Thi Thao in the women’s 800m event.
 
Meanwhile, Le Ngoc Mai, Trieu Thi Hoa Hong and Nguyen Thuy Dung brought another gold to Vietnam by winning the women’s 25m sport team pistol event.
Bui Thi Quynh defeated her Thai opponent in the final to win the first gold medal in Thai Muay competition.
 
Chess grandmaster Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son improved his achievements with the second gold medal at this Games in the fast chess category.-
 
Taekwondo brings day’s first gold medal for VN
Nguyen Thi Le Kim, Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan and Chau Tuyet Van secured a gold medal at the Taekwondo’s team demonstration category, the first gold on December 18 for Vietnam at the ongoing 27th SEA Games.
 
The trio won the World Poomsae Championship in Indonesia last month.
Two other artists, Nguyen Thanh Bao Mi and Nguyen Viet Quoc, bagged a silver medal at the duo demonstration category.
 
Vietnam’s Taekwondo team set a target of four gold medals at this year’s SEA Games, the largest regional sport event.
By 11:00 AM, Vietnam won 50 gold, 43 silver and 52 bronze medals.-
 
SEA Games 27: Runners win Vietnam more golds
Vietnamese runners outstripped their rivals to win another two gold medals for the country on December 17 at the ongoing SEA Games in Myanmar.
In the women’s 100m sprint, Vu Thi Huong finished first with a time of 11.59 seconds.

Another gold went to Do Thi Thao in the women’s 800m event, finishing in 2 minutes and 5.52 seconds.
 
Meanwhile, Duong Van Thai, who triumphed in the men’s 800m in the last SEA Games, only gained a bronze medal this time.
 
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Quach Thi Lan finished second in 58.93 seconds.
As of 4.30 pm, Vietnam ranked second with 47 golds, 41 silvers and 51 bronzes, only behind Thailand in the medal tally.
 
Sprinter Huong’s impressive return to SEA Games
Sprinter Vu Thi Huong took a gold medal for Vietnam in the women’s 100m in Myanmar on December 17 after a prolonged injury and a recent ovarian cyst surgery.
 
She overwhelmed her Thai and Indonesian players, reaching the finish line after 11s59, or 0s26 less than a Thai runner.
At the previous SEA Games in Indonesia in 2011, Huong failed to secure gold in her favourite 100m and 200m.
 
Beyond expectations, Vu Thi Huong took a gold medal in the women's 100m at SEA Games 27
 
The impressive performance in Myanmar is expected to build up Huong’s confidence in the women’s 200m race on December 18.  
Shortly after Huong’s competition, her team mate Do Thi Thao bagged a gold medal in the women’s 800m.
 
In the morning, Nguyen Van Lai carried off a gold medal in the men’s 5,000m race.
Vietnamese marksmen brought home seven out of a total of 12 gold medals at this event, surpassing their set target.
 
Le Ngoc Mai, Nguyen Thi Hoa Hong and Nguyen Thi Dung clinched the seventh gold medal for Vietnam’s shooting in the women’s 25m air pistol.
Rowers struck only gold medal, failing to meet their set target of winning at least 3 gold medals. Bui Thi Nhat, Nguyen Thi Trinh, Tran Thi Sam, and Pham Thi Thao  only grabbed a silver medal in the women’s LW4.
 
In football, U23 Vietnam were knocked out of SEA Games 27 in a group match against defending champions Malaysia.
As of 07.00pm on December 17, Vietnam got a total of 49 gold medals, ranking it second on the medal tally.
 
Football for all evens playing field for rural kids
Children attending a fun football festival were filled with joy at the end of the recent one-day event held in Do Son district of the northern city of Hai Phong as part of a project by the Football For All in Vietnam (FFAV), jointly initiated by presidents of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Norway Football Federation back in 1997.

The FFAV moved to Hue in 2004 and began its operations in Do Son in 2007. According to its website, the FFAV has managed to create 148 clubs with 1,659 teams and 15,956 players. It also hosts 300 tournaments a year and educates 4,537 people.
 
This year, hundreds of children from Hop Duc and Minh Duc communes in Do Son were able to participate in five hours of activities.
According to Hoang Trung Hieu, director of the FFAV's programme in Do Son district, after six years in the district, the number of clubs has rapidly swelled from two to nine big clubs and 21 small clubs.
 
With just balls and some simple objects, the FFAV's dedicated instructors created a wide range of games to help children learn skills as well as increase their knowledge.
 
Children can join in football matches or partake in drills combining thinking exercises with football skills. They can also dribble a ball to take pieces of paper with words and arrange these into a meaningful order; or head the ball into circles with different terms referring to good or bad aspects of society.
 
"This kind of event is invaluable and helps to educate children about football skills as well as life skills," said Vu Trong Loi, head of the National Sports Administration's Popular Sports Department.
 
"The event also serves as a catalyst to encourage children to participate in community activities through which they can acquire knowledge and practical skills. More events like this will be held in other provinces in the future."
 
The course is supplied at a very low cost and sometimes self-run by locals. Along with its own creative ideas, the FFAV can reach children in rural areas for minimal expenses.
 
"I saw a lot of different exercises here and how you use these to teach these boys and girls not only how to play football but how to be educated in a proper manner," said Wilfried Lemke, special adviser to the Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace, after finishing a 30-minute football match with children.
 
Lemke said he was not disappointed to travel for three hours from Hanoi to attend the event, which he described as providing value, engagement, organisational skills, good-behaviour and a good environment.
 
"I am very pleased to see this project by NGO FFAV in Vietnam. I always focus on grassroots-level sports where children learn how to behave, that's part of education," Lemke said.
 
Pham Duc Dai, a secondary school student who has participated in the event two years in a row, said that participating in the event had helped him learn teamwork and social skills.
 
"We do not have many events of this kind which allow all children in the commune to meet, play and socialise. I want it to be held more often," Dai said.
Dai's wish is also what Lemke wants to bring to rural children across Vietnam. Lemke hopes other provinces and cities will replicate or learn from the model the FFAV is implementing in Hue city and Do Son.
 
"It is a question of content and support. This initiative has to be supported. With support from the government, the work will be much easier," he said.
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Vietnam Harvests More Gold Medals in Chess, Shooting, Athletics & Muay

VIETNAM UPDATED. Vietnam Sports Delegation continues to grab more six gold medals in chess, shooting, athletics and Muay on December 17.

At this time, Vietnam had 48 gold medals and still ranks the second position in the medals tally at the 27th SEA Games after Thailand.

In the fast chess category, chess player Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son was given a gold medal after drawing in the last game of chess.

This is the second gold medal that Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son grabbed in the 27th SEA Games. Earlier, Truong Son won a gold medal in blitz chess event.

The other Vietnamese players Nguyen Duc Hoa won one more silver medal in the same category. In the women's blitz chess category, Pham Le Thao Nguyen also grabbed a silver medal for Vietnam Sports Delegation.

In the Muay, Vietnamesese athlete Bui Thi Quynh beat Thailand to bring one more gold medal in women’s 48kg weight category.

In the women’s 100 meters athletics, Vu Thi Huong contributed to Vietnam more one gold medal with a victory of 11 seconds.

In the men’s 5000 meters athletics, athlete Nguyen Van Lai brought a gold medal with achievement of 14 minutes 19 seconds. Also in athletics category, Do Thi Thao and Vu Thi Ly grabbed a gold and silver medal in women’s 800 meters athletics.

In shooting category, shooters Trieu Thi HoaHong, Le Ngoc Mai and Nguyen Thuy Dung achieved 1.706 points and were given a gold medal.

In archery, in the final round of women's team archery competition, Loc Thi Dao, Duong Thi Kim Lien and Nguyen Thi Quyen Trang won a silver medal after losing to Indonesia.

In rowing, Vietnamese women rowing athletes included Bui Thi Nhat, Nguyen Thi Trinh and Pham Thi Thao competed excellently to grab one silver medal, scoring a victory in 7 minutes 9 seconds. Myanmar won a gold medal with achievement of 7 minutes 7 seconds.

In men’s team crowing category, Vietnam team was given a bronze medal. Gold medal went to Indonesia and the silver medal went to Thailand.

In women’s volleyball category, Vietnamese women volleyball team will attend in the final round after Vietnam beat Malaysia with a victory 3-0 in the last time. Accordingly, Vietnam will meet Thailand in the final round.

Neeranuch Claims Eighth Gold in Relay

THAILAND UPDATED.Thai sprinter Neeranuch Klomdee won her eighth successive gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay at the 27th SEA Games yesterday.
Thailand also claimed the men's 4x100m relay crown and three other titles in athletics yesterday following a slow start on the opening day of track and field on Sunday.

The women's 4x100m relay team successfully defended their title in 44.42sec, ahead of Vietnam (44.99) and Indonesia (45.88).

It was Thailand's 16th straight win and 18th overall in the event.

The Thai quartet _ Neeranuch, Phatsorn Jaksuninkorn, Tassaporn Wannakit and Nongnuch Sanrat _ broke their own record of 44.50sec set at the 2011 Games in Indonesia.

''We were under pressure as defending champions. It's a huge relief although we were confident that we would win,'' Neeranuch said. ''It's my eighth straight win in the event. I have won every time I competed in this event.''

The Suphan Buri athlete said Thailand had been dominant in the discipline because of their great baton-passing tactics and a big pool of runners.

Neeranuch will also compete in the women's 100m today and she hopes to win another gold medal in her final SEA Games appearance.

''It will be my last SEA Games,'' said the 33-year-old Neeranuch, who hopes to take part in next year's Asian Games before retiring.

In the men's 4x100m relay, Thai runners _ Ruttanapon Sowan, Aphisit Promkaew, Jirapong Meenapra and Suppachai Chimdee _ took gold in 39.75sec, beating Singapore (39.79) and Indonesia (40.15).

It was Thailand's 23rd title overall in the event after they came in fourth at the 2011 tournament.

Panwat Gimsrang won in the women's hammer throw (54.96m) while Mingkamon Koomphon got bronze in the same event.

In her second SEA Games, Panwat broke Thailand's record of 51.19m with the SEA Games record being 56.0m.

Wassana Winatho was first in heptathlon with Sunisa Khotseemueng third.

In the men's pole vault, Kreeta Sintawacheewa took gold and Sompong Saombankuay bronze.

In chess, Thailand (Supat Lekcham, Nut Sutthithamwasi, Arch Boonruamboon and Worathep Timsri) won gold in the men's traditional team blitz competition.

In weightlifting, Thailand took two golds in the women's 69kg and men's 94kg.

Boonatee Klasikit won in the women's 69kg with lifts of 100kg in snatch and 125kg for a total of 225kg.

In the men's 94kg, Sarat Sumpradit managed 158kg in snatch and 194kg in clean and jerk for 352kg.

In swimming, Patarawadee Kittiya won Thailand's last gold medal in the pool at the 27th SEA Games with her victory in the women's 200m butterfly.

In all, Thailand claimed seven golds, eight silvers and eight bronzes in the swimming tournament.

The Games end on Sunday.

Thailand chase 110 gold medals

Thailand are upbeat about their chance of reaching their goal of winning 110 gold medals at the 27th SEA Games.

''We are highly likely to win 100-110 gold medals,'' Thailand's chief of delegation Thana Chaiprasit said.

Thailand have enjoyed a gold medal haul over the past few days of the biennial event.

''We have done well overall,'' he said. ''We have failed to meet target in some sports and done better than expectation in others.''

Thai wushu exponents are so far Thailand's most disappointing team. They targeted two golds but failed to secure a single title.

Thana said Thailand may not be able to win the overall title as hosts Myanmar are likely to win a lot of golds in vovinam and kempo.

But he believed his team would be the best side in international sports.

He said Myanmar had done a great job in organising their first SEA Games in 44 years while Vietnam had made fast progress in international sports.
bangkokpost.com

Jirapong Surges to Victory in 100 Meter

THAILAND UPDATED. Thailand's Jirapong Meenapra became the fastest man at 27th SEA Games when he won gold in the men's 100m yesterday.
But Thailand will have to wait for at least another two years to claim the women's 100m title as their runners could only take silver and bronze.

At Wunna Theikhdi Stadium, Jirapong, from Surat Thani, crossed the finish line in 10.48sec, ahead of Indonesia's Isawandi (10.51) and Muhammad Jamal of Singapore (10.55).

"I am really happy although my time was much slower than my personal best of 10.35," said Jirapong, who became Thailand's first 100m winner since Watchara Sondee in 2005.

"I was in lane five and was sandwiched by Indonesian runners in lane four and lane six. That made me feel uncomfortable but I managed to win."

In his first SEA Games, the 20-year-old Thai, who only started running the distance three years ago, will also compete in the men's 200m.

With his success in Myanmar, he now eyes a top-three finish in the 100m at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

In the women's 100m, Vietnam's Thi Huong Vu claimed gold in 11.59sec, comfortably beating Thais Neeranuch Klomdee (11.85) and Tassaporn Wannakit (11.91).

Neeranuch, the last Thai to win the event in 2003, said the 27-year-old Vietnamese, who won silver at the 2010 Asian Games, had been one of the continent's top sprinters in the past few years.

"She is a great runner and deserves the win," Neeranuch said.

The 33-year-old veteran has represented Thailand for 16 years and this will be her last SEA Games. She aims to take part in next year's Asian Games before retiring.

Wassana Winatho claimed her second gold of the Myanmar Games with her win in the women's 400m hurdles. She crossed the line in 58.85sec to defeat Vietnam's Thi Lan Quach (58.93) and Singapore's Dipna Lim Prasad (59.96).

Wassana, who had won gold in the heptathlon, said she was unsure if she would be fit for today's long jump because of back pain.

In the men's javelin throw, Peerchet Jantra took home the title with a Games record of 76.30m, ahead of compatriot Hussadin Rodmanee, who managed 75.46m.

Distance running specialist Boonthung Srisung won silver in the men's 5000m. He clocked 14.21min behind gold medallists Van Lai Nguyen of Vietnam who crossed the line in 14.19min.
bangkokposts.com

The Surge 3 Gold Medals by Philippines Team

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Before Henry Dagmil left for the 27th Southeast Asian Games, he marked his 32nd birthday with his family.
A bigger jubilation now awaits Dagmil after he led a three-gold surge by Team Philippines on Sunday that raised its hopes of avoiding an all-time humiliation in the biennial meet.

Archand Christian Bagsit led a one-two PH finish in the 400-meter run and cyclist Mark John Lexer Galedo came up with a surprising victory in the 50-kilometer individual time trial to round out the day's heroes for an embattled Philippine delegation.

But it was Dagmil flashing his old form in his favorite event that resounded the most as it practically started the ball rolling, so to speak, for the Filipinos.

Dagmil, who reached his peak after back-to-back Games victories in 2005 and 2007, leaped to a distance of 7.80 meters in only his second try to quash the threat of 2011 champion Supanara Sukhasvasti of Thailand (7.71m) and Vietnam’s Van Lam Pham (7.53m).

Bagsit followed suit soon after, crossing the finish with a clocking of 47.22 seconds while teammate Edgard Alejan was close behind at 47.45s. Third was Edy Ariansyah (47.78).

"Malakas siya sa last 200 meters," related head coach Joseph Sy, "kaya ang naging strategy nila ay paunahin si Alejan para maubos ang hangin ng mga kalaban. Mula du’n, hahabulin na lang ni Bagsit."

Galedo, who could only bring home two individual bronze medals in his first SEAG stint two years ago, became an unlikely hero when he topped the race held at Mount Pleasant Cycling Field.

The small bike shop owner in Mandaluyong City submitted a time of one 1:07:00 and beat Indonesian rider Robin Manullang (1:07:38) and the other PHL entry, Ronald Oranza (1:07:50).

Embellishing a fruitful day for the PHL athletics team was the silver medal of Arniel Ferrera in hammer throw and the bronze medal of Riezel Buenaventura in women's pole vault.?

Sinag Pilipinas fashioned an 84-56 thrashing of Malaysia to complete a six-game sweep of the basketball competitions, but its 16th cage title in all would be formalized only in the sport’s closing ceremonies Monday.

That sure gold would go a long way in helping Team Philippines’ chase of Singapore, which currently holds sixth place with 15 golds to the Filipinos’ 10.

A finish lower than sixth would be the country’s worst since debuting in the Games in 1977.

Aside from the men’s basketball gold, Monday promises to be a productive day in other fronts for Team Philippines.

Eric Panique (marathon), Ernest John Obiena (pole vault), Lorelie Sermona (hammer throw) and Mervin Guarte (800m) try to come up with gold medals along with Narcisa Atienza in heptathlon.

Rowing competitions also get underway with Benjie Tolentino, Edgar Ilas, Alvin Amposta and Roque Abala trying to get their fair share of the first three gold medals up for grabs.

Swimming has Jessie Khing Lacuna, Jasmine Alkhaldi and Matt Navata taking part in the freestyle events, while GMs Eugene Torre and John Paul Gomez compete in the Chess 960 individual rapid.

Equestrian has Diego Eduardo Virata, Andrea Sophia Belofsky and Camila Isabel Lastrilla trying to make do with local mounts when they vie in team show jumping.

Dennis Orcollo barely made it past Ibrahim Amir of Malaysia, 9-8, on Sunday and will try to complete his domination of 9-ball singles in the remaining rounds.
spin.ph

Hendro Raih Emas di Jalan Cepat

INDONESIA UPDATED. Atlet jalan cepat Indonesia, Hendro, berhasil meraih medali emas di nomor jalan cepat 20 kilometer SEA Games 2013 yang berlangsung di Kompleks Olahraga Wunna Theikdi, Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar, 15 Desember 2013.

Dari hasil yang terpampang di laman resmi SEA Games 2013, Hendro mencatatkan waktu selama 1 jam 29 menit 41 detik. Dia mengalahkan catatan waktu atlet Vietnam, Xuan Vinh Vo, yang menempuh 20 kilometer dengan catatan waktu 1 jam 33 menit 30 detik. Adapun atlet Malaysia, Myo Min Thiha, menempati posisi ketiga dengan catatan waktu 1 jam 36 menit 18 detik.

Waktu yang dicatatkan Hendro jauh lebih baik daripada SEA Games sebelumnya. Pada SEA Games 2011 lalu, Hendro memperoleh medali perak dengan catatan waktu 1 jam 33 menit 34 detik. Catatan waktu yang ia torehkan kini bahkan melebihi peraih emas SEA Games 2011 itu, yaitu Lo Choon Sieng asal Malaysia yang menorehkan catatan waktu 1 jam 32 menit 34 detik.
 
Namun, Hendro belum mampu melampaui catatan waktu terbaiknya, yang juga adalah rekor nasional, yaitu 1 jam 29 menit 35 detik. Rekor ini ia capai pada Pekan Olahraga Nasional 2012 September tahun lalu.
 
Hingga 15 Desember 2013 siang, Indonesia berada pada posisi keempat dalam tabel perolehan medali. Kontingen Merah Putih meraih 32 medali emas, 44 perak, dan 40 perunggu. Thailand berada pada puncak tabel dengan 36 emas, 32 perak, dan 38 perunggu, diikuti tuan rumah Myanmar dengan 34 emas, 31 perak, dan 31 perunggu. Vietnam berada di atas Indonesia dengan 34 emas, 28 perak, dan 35 perunggu.
tempo.co

Maraton Gagal Sumbang Medali SEA Games

INDONESIA UPDATED. Dua wakil Indonesia pada cabang atletik nomor lari maraton gagal menyumbangkan medali. Yahuza dan Meri Meriana Paijo yang menjadi andalan kontingen Indonesia tidak meraih satu pun medali.

Hasil lomba lari maraton yang berakhir di Stadion Wunna Theikdi, medali emas putri direbut oleh Thi Binh Pham dari Vietnam dengan catatan waktu tercepat 2 jam 45 menit 34 detik. Medali perak dan perunggu diraih oleh pelari Myanmar, Myint Myint Aye dan Pa Pa. Myint mencatat waktu 2 jam 46 menit 7 detik, unggul tiga menit dari Pa Pa.

Pelari Indonesia Meri Meriana tidak mampu menyelesaikan lomba. Sementara pada nomor putra, emas direbut oleh pelari Singapura, Ying Ren Mok, yang membukukan waktu 2 jam 28 menit 36 detik.
 
Peringkat kedua atau medali perak diraih pelari Myanmar, Thaung Aye, dengan waktu 2 jam 29 menit 50 detik. Lalu, pelari Filipina Eric Panique harus puas mendapat perunggu setelah finis satu menit di belakang Thaung Aye.
 
Sedangkan Yahuza hanya finis pada tempat ketujuh dengan waktu 2 jam 36 menit 32 detik. Hasil ini jelas kalah jika dibandingkan dengan prestasi dalam SEA Games 2011. Pada waktu itu, Yahuza dan Triyaningsih yang menjadi andalan Indonesia mampu menyumbangkan medali emas. Catatan waktu Yahuza kali ini pun menurun. Pada SEA Games dua tahun lalu, Yahuza mencatat waktu tercepat 2 jam 27 menit 45 detik.
 
Menanggapi hal itu, Kepala Bidang Pembinaan Prestasi PB PASI Boedi Darma menyatakan, semua atlet yang turun pada nomor lari maraton tidak memberikan penampilan terbaiknya. "Semua catatan waktunya kurang maksimal. Padahal tidak ada masalah dengan cuaca," kata Boedi.
tempo.com

Philippine Athletics Kick Off SEA Games Campaign Today

PHILIPPINE UPDATED. Philippines athletics team are all fired up for a good start today, as athletics events kick off at the 27th SEA Games in Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Spearheading the first day of athletics action are middle distance runner Archand Christian Bagsit, long jumper Henry Dagmil and hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, all gunning to convert their 2011 SEA Games silver medals to gold.

Bagsit, the first to see action in the morning heats today, came so close in winning the gold in his SEA Games debut two years ago in Palembang, Indonesia, barely losing the 400m run gold to Indonesia’s Heru Astriyanto.

“He has improved a lot since Indonesia,” said Phl athletics team leader Luisito Arciaga on the eve of the sport’s kickoff. “This time, he’s one of our strongest bets for the gold.”

Bagsit, then only 20, lost the 400m gold to Astriyanto with a clocking of 47.71s to the Indonesian’s 47.53 in Palembang. He now clocks a season’s best of 47.11 en route to his golden campaign this year.

Joining Bagsit in the 400m heats this morning is Edgardo Alejan who is the fastest Filipino runner at present in the 400m dash with season’s best of 46.95.

Dagmil and Ferrera start their campaign this afternoon, with Dagmil taking the first jump in the order of events which starts at 14:00pm. He’ll be joined by Benigno Marayag who has been jumping better distance than Damil this year.

Also seeing action today are Riezel Buenaventura in the women’s pole vault and Narcisa Atienza in heptathlon.

Philippine athletics which only won two gold medals last 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, hope to deliver 6 gold medals this year, and they hope to win two of those 6 today to fire-up the team.

Athletics has the most number of athletes this year in Myanmar SEA Games. A total of 24 athletes are seeing action in various events.

Not seeing action today are hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechaser Jessica Barnard, high jumper Tyler Ruiz, Eliezer Sunang, Rene Herrera, Ernest John Obiena, Loralie Sermona, Katherine Khay Santos, Julius Felicisimo Nierras, Mervin Guarte, Danilo Fresnido, Jesson Ramil Cid, Junrey Bano, Eric Panique, Christopher Ulboc Jr., Isidro del Prado Jr., Tyler Ruiz, and Rosie Villarito

Sprint Legend Prepares to Dominate Again

VIETNAM UPDATED. Vu Thi Huong has bad memories of the last Southeast Asian Games, where the sprint queen failed to defend her titles.

This year, Huong will try to make amends for her disappointment, but is still struggling to overcome injuries.

Two years ago in Indonesia, Huong unexpectedly finished third in both the 100m and 200m events after dominating her regional competitors for most of the season.

Huong admitted that it was impossible to win every time, but she could not believe that she had failed at the tournament she had won on the previous three occasions.

The Thai Nguyen Province-born athlete has been struggling with injuries for the last three years which have strongly affected her performance. During that period, Huong was only able to shine at the national championships in 2012, where her times were better than the SEA Games gold medallists.

Huong ran 11.62sec in the 100m and 23.32sec in the 200m, compared to 11.69 by Indonesia's Serafi Unani and 23.65 by Laphassaporn Tawoncharoen of Thailand.

Her 200m result was even better than the time of 23.49 that helped Chisato Fukushima of Japan win the Asian Games gold in China, where Huong came second.

In this year's championships in September, Huong avoided the individual categories, and only competed in the team events due to her injuries.

At that time, Huong and her coach Nguyen Dinh Minh both believed that the rest time to the SEA Games would be enough for her to return to her peak.

Three months have passed, and Huong appears to be peaking in time for the Games, with times of11.50 and 23.50 during training.

Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Athletics Federation, said that the best result in the region for 100m was around 11.76, so the door was open for her to take gold.

However, he said the 27 year old had not been set any targets, and would be free to compete without pressure.

"I have faced different kinds of injuries and tasted success and defeat in my career. In Asia, I do not fear anyone but myself," said Huong, referring to her long-term injuries and recent surgery.

Viet Nam's golden hopes
In Myanmar the organisers will award 46 sets of medals, and the Vietnamese team are expected to win nine golds. Young athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh will take part in her second SEA Games in the women's 200m and 400m events.

The 17-year-old recently made a bang by coming fourth in the world junior 400m. Her personal best of 52.97 which she set at this year's national tournament is faster than the SEA Games winning result of 54.13, and close to the Asian Championships gold medal time.

Oanh will be a competitive rival for her senior teammate Huong in the 200m event. Thanh Hoa Province's Quach Thi Lan will return for Viet Nam after months of training in Bulgaria and Malaysia. The 18-year-old runner who has received strong support for the upcoming ASIAD is expected to shine in the women's 400m and 400m hurdles.

She is the SEA Games record holder in the 400m event with a time of 53.76, while in the 400m hurdles, she has already run faster than the SEA Games winner.

Other Vietnamese athletes who have been tipped to have a good Games include Do Thi Thao (women's 800m and 1,500m); Pham Thi Diem (women's high jump); Tran Hue Hoa (women's triple-jump) and Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (women's walk).

Athletics will be held from December 14-19 at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex in Nay Pyi Taw. 
vietnamnet.vn

Indonesia Send Best Athletes To Myanmar

INDONESIA UPDATED. Athletics is one of Indonesia hopes to achieve many gold medals at the SEA Games 2013. Therefore PB PASI only send the best athletes to Myanmar.

Athletics send 46 athletes to SEA Games in Myanmar which consists of 23 men and 23 women athletes. For Indonesian men will compete in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 3,000 meters haling hurdles, 400 meters hurdles, marathon, pole vault, discus throw, javelin, dasa race, and road fast 20 km.

For women's category, they will compete in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 500 meters, 10,000 meters, 3,000 steeplechase, 100 meters hurdles, 4 x 100 meters, marathon, long jump and triple jump.

To run away, an athlete can be compete more events if the schedule is set in a manner that the athlete can restore strength. But Myanmar is already set a schedule to run the 10,000 meter marathon close to the event of marathon, so it is not possible for a long-distance runners to come down to two events like long distance running.

"An athlete who recently completed 10,000 meter race may not directly compete in the marathon the next day. Because long-distance runners need recovery after removing a large enough energy in the 10,000 -meter race , " said manager Paul Lay athletic SEA Games in Jakarta.

bolanews.com

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