Albania, Martinez go for AIG golds

HANOI – Boxers Annie Albania and Mitchel Martinez vowed to give their all as they set out for the gold medal in their respective divisions in women’s boxing finals in the third Asian Indoor Games at the Bah Ninh gymnasium today.

Eight finals bouts are on tap starting at 3 p.m. with Albania and Martinez both going for victory in a bid to steer the Philippines to its best showing in the annual meet.

The country, behind the muay bets, won just one gold medal in each of its campaign in the 2005 inaugurals in Bangkok and in the 2007 games in Macau.

“We prepared long and hard for this. So we will give our best for the country to win the gold,” said Albania in Filipino.

A silver medalist in the last World Women’s Championships, Albania made it to the final round with a 6-0 rout over India’s Chhoto Loura while Martinez, the 2005 Asian champion, pulled off a 13-9 win over local bet Vui Nguyen Thi in semifinals last Monday.

“The country is praying for the success of Albania and Martinez. They are in the finals because of their patience, hard work and sacrifice,” said PSC chairman Harry Angping.

“Both Annie and Mitchel are veterans and we have good chances of winning the gold medal,” said ABAP past president and current vice president Manny Lopez who in 2001 had pushed for the development of women’s boxing in Asia.

Albania faces Thailand’s Sopida Satumrum for the bantamweight gold while Martinez clashes with Cheng Dong of China in the light welterweight finals.

But both Satumrum and Dong are formidable opponents with the Thai fighter, a light flyweight gold medalist in the 2007 SEA Games, coming off a victory over Alice Kate Aparri.

Dong, meanwhile, has beaten Martinez in the quarterfinals of the 60kg division in the World Championships in Nimbo, China. She later went on to the finals and clinched the silver medal after bowing to Kathy Taylor of Republic of Ireland.

“We know our opponents and we have our plans on how to beat them,” said coach Glicerio Catolico.

“We expect a tough fight but our boxers are prepared,” said Catolico who is being assisted by Barcelona Games bronze medalist Roel Velasco.

The Philippines has so far secured two bronze medals courtesy of Josie Gabuco in pinweight and Biboy Rivera in the men’s singles in bowling.

Sanshou 48-kilogram fighter Jennifer Lagilag later assured another bronze for Team RP as she advanced to the semis through the luck of draw.

“So far so good,” said RP chief of mission Julian Camacho. “We have two boxers fighting for gold medals while our athletes in muay, bowling, wushu, swimming and chess are still competing and remain possible contenders. I truly believe we are headed into a good showing this year.”