Boxers, cue artists step up drive

DOHA — The rejuvenated Philippine contingent steps up its medal drive in various fronts Sunday with Violito Payla eyeing a spot in the boxing finals against a tough Chinese rival, the fancied pool artists resume their respective bids in 9-ball and the highly-charged equestrian team jumps into action in Day 10 of the Asian Games here.

Payla, who snapped a medal-less week for the RP athletes with a devastating victory over Indian Jitender Kumar in the quarters Thursday, takes on Bo Yang in the semifinal round of the flyweight division, confident of a victory and a shot at the gold medal at the Aspire Hall 5.

The fight is set at 2:20 p.m. (7:20 p.m. in Manila) after Thailand ace Somjit Jongjohor guns for the other finals berth against Japanese Katsuaki Susa.

After nine days of action, the Philippines totes a 0-1-2 (gold-silver-bronze) medal take with jin Marie Antoinette Rivero accounting for the silver medal late Friday. The two bronzes were also courtesy of taekwondo through Eunice Alora and Veronica Domingo although the boxers have assured three bronzes for reaching the semis of their respective divisions.

Over at the Al-Sadd Multi Purpose Hall, Antonio Gabica, who with compatriot Leonardo Andam have reached the semis of the 8-ball for another two sure bronzes for RP, starts his bid in the men’s 9-ball against Ali Humeed of Bahrain.

Gabica and Rubilen Amit were actually in the thick of the battle in round of 32 matches in 9-ball at presstime with Mary Ann Basas expected to join the fray late in the day.

Getting up early at 9 a.m. to compete in equestrian are Toni Leviste, Juan Ramon Lanza, Danielle Cojuangco and Paola Zobel at the start of the Jumping-Individual first qualifier at the Equestrian Jumping Area.

The Philippines is the defending champion in the individual event although Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who bagged the gold medal in the Busan Asiad in 2002 to cap RP’s 3-7-16 (gold-silver-bronze) medal haul, will not be around after opting to give up her slot due to injury after a fall during the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.

But Leviste and company have vowed to give their best against a talent-laden field that includes riders from the fancied Middle East countries which did not compete in Busan.

In the final day of taekwondo competitions, Kirstie Alora tries to at least match her sister Eunice’s bronze medal finish as she battles Tathmina Khojaeva in the quarterfinal round of the 59k division at the Qatar Sports Club Indoor Hall.

The bowlers, meantime, get their last chance for glory as Markwin Tee, Daisy Posadas and Liza del Rosario resume their campaign in the masters event which started Saturday with the first block.

The RP golfers also try to stay in the hunt for medal in the third round of the competitions at the Doha Golf Club with Jay Bayron and Cyna Rodriguez staying in the thick of the fight for top individual honors and the Philippines remaining within striking distance of the leaders in team play.

Marvin Amposta and Danny Funelas also see action in the canoe-kayak event beginning at 9:10 a.m. while the RP cyclists try to match power and strength with the best in the continent as they compete in the men’s sprint qualifier (Carlo Jazul and Jan Paul Morales), women’s individual pursuit elims (Marites Bitbit), men’s individual pursuit (Alfie Catalan), and men’s team sprint finals (Paulo Manipol, Edwin Paragoso and Morales).

At the Hamad Aquatic Centre, SEA Games gold medallist Zardo Domenios and Nino Carog battle the top divers in the region in the men’s synchronized 3m springboard final while Rexel Ryan Fabriga and Jaime Asok vie for top honors in the women’s synchronized 10m platform final.

In fencing, Gian Carlo Nocom competes in the men’s individual sabre while Melly Joyce Angeles plays in the women’s individual epee at the Al-Arabi Sports Club.

Also seeing action in a busy day for the RP athletes are wrestler Margarito Angana in the men’s Greco Roman 55, tennis players Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, Czarina Mae Arevalo and Denise Dy and the squash team of Ricky Espinola and Robert Andrew Garcia.