JAKARTA – Nakopo ni judoka Kiyomi Watanabe ang unang silver medal ng Filipinas sa 2018 Asian Games makaraang yumuko kay Nami Nabekura ng Japan sa finals ng women’s-63kg division kahapon sa Plenary Hall ng Jakarta Convention Center dito.
Si Watanabe, ang reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, ay natalo sa gold medal match sa kanyang long-time rival.
Unang tinalo ni Watanabe sina Orapin Senatham ng Thailand sa quarterfinals at Gankhaich Bold ng Mongolia sa semifinals upang maisaayos ang finals showdown kay Asian champion Nabekura ng Japan.
“Coming to this, I am the challenger,” wika ng 22-anyos na Sports Science student sa Waseda University sa Tokyo.
“We had a game plan but I was so nervous before the game and could not execute. I know her because we often met in tournament in Japan,” aniya. “But she is now much stronger than me because she often competes.”
Gayunman ay nahigitan ni Watanabe ang kanyang seventh-place finish sa Incheon 2014 Asian Games.
Sa kabila ng kabiguang maibigay ang ika-5 gold medal ng bansa, sinabi ni Watanabe na masaya na siya sa kanyang unang silver medal at sa kanyang kontribusyon sa kampanya ng bansa.
“I didn’t have a medal in my first Asian Games. I am so happy with this medal. I hope to continue playing for the Philippines,” aniya.
Ang silver medal ni Watanabe ay unang podium finish ng Pinas sa judo sa Asian Games magmula nang isama ang sport sa continental games noong 1986.
Hanggang prresstime, ang bansa ay may apat na gold, isang silver, at 13 bronze medals, sapat para sa ika-17 puwesto.
Samantala, bigo si reigning SEA Games at Thailand Open Athletics pole vault champion Ernest John Obien at ang 4x100m relay team nina Eric Shawn Cray, fellow-Fil-Am Trenten Berama Anfernee Lopena at Clinton Kingsley Bautista na dumating sixth overall.
Ito ang ikalawang kabiguan ni Cray, reigning 400m hurdles Asian Athletics champion at SEA Games double gold, na unang natalo sa 400m hurdles.
Tatlong Pinoy boxers naman ang aakyat sa ruweda ngayong araw sa pag-asang magapi ang kani-kanilang katunggali upang umusad sa gold medal round.
Sisikapin nina Eumir Felix Marcial, Carlo Paalam at Rogen Ladon na madagdagan ang apat na gold medals ng bansa.
“We have three remaining boxers chasing the elusive medal. Hopefully, they can survive the great odds like they did in the past,” wika ni Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines Executive Director Ed Picson, patungkol kina to Ladon, Paalam at Marcial, na nakasisiguro na sa bronze medals. CLYDE MARIANO
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