Thai humbles Molina in IM

HANOI – Tanker Miguel Molina lost to Thailand’s Radomyos Matjiur in their battle for the bronze medal in the 100m individual medley on the final day of the third Asian Indoor Games Saturday night.

The 21-year old Matjiur kept his slim lead in the first 50m against Molina and went on to finish third in 55.25 seconds. Molina settled for fourth with a 55.51-second clocking.

“We laud the efforts made by the athletes as the country achieved its best finish in the Asian Indoor Games. This is just a warm up of good things to come,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping.

Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Gordiyenko added the 100m IM to his 200m IM gold medal as he clocked 54.87 seconds while teammate Artur Dilman took the silver medal in 55.10 seconds.

Molina competed in five events and won a silver in the 200m IM and finished fourth in the 100m IM, fifth in the 200m freestyle and failed to advance to the finals in the 50m breast and 100m freestyle.

“I’m tired and disappointed,” said Molina. “I felt I could have done better but it is what it is.”

He, however, vowed to train hard in the next 30 days for next month’s Laos SEA Games where he is the reigning gold medalist in the 200m and 400m IM and the 200m breaststroke events.

“It’s work time when I get back. I will put on hard work, keep my head down and hopefully it will pay off. I still have a month to prepare for the Laos SEA Games where I hope to win at least one gold medal,” said Molina.

The Philippines ended in the meet with one gold, four silver and five bronze medals for 20th place overall.

RP placed seventh among Southeast Asian countries which competed in the 10-day competition with the 25th SEA Games host Laos had three gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals.

Vietnam finished second overall behind the 48 gold, 25 silver and 19 bronze medal of champion China with 42-30-21 medal tally while Thailand placed fourth with 19-17-34.

Indonesia is at ninth place with 6-3-14; Malaysia at 15th place with 3-5-8; and Singapore at 18th with 1-7-3.