Filipinos bag 4 golds in Asian Games Invitational

MANILA, Philippines — Decathlete Aries Toledo gave Team Philippines its fourth gold medal in the 18th Asian Games Invitational Tournament as he dominated Sri Lankan rival Ajith Kumara Rajakarunawala Monday at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Toledo, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champ, amassed 6,659 points to beat his  Rajakarunawala (6,413) by 246 points.

The 24-year-old pride of Nueva Ecija submitted a personal best of 14.91 seconds in the 110m hurdles (against the Sri Lankan’s 15.18) and beat Rajakarunawala in the discus throw (36.8 versus 32.64) in the final day of decathlon action to wrap up his triumph.

Toledo joined taekwondo jins Kirstie Elaine Alora (women’s +67kg), Keno Anthony Mendoza (men’s -63kg) and Keybert Lee Lumbania (men’s +80kgs) in the winners’ circle as Phl hiked its collection to four golds, two silvers and seven bronzes for fourth overall in the medal tally dominated so far by Indonesia (15-9-8).

Rio Olympian Alora copped the mint via an 8-6 win over Hong Kong bet Tsan Wai Ying, 8-6, while Mendoza edged Korean Moon Jin Soo, 4-2, and Lumbaria crushed Indonesian Nicolas Armanto, 18-4, in the jins’ golden run during the weekend.

Lady jins Rheza Aragon (-53kgs) and Darlene Arpon (-67kgs) settled for the silver while bronze winners Jenar Torillos (men’s -58kg), Lorenz Chavez (men’s -68kgs), Christian Al dela Cruz (men’s -80kgs), Baby Jessa Canabal (women’s -49kgs) and Rhezie Aragon (women’s -57kgs) rounded out taekwondo’s medalists. Pencak silat artists Alvin Campos (men’s Class E 65-70kgs) and Glen Gunan (men’s Class F 70-75kgs) also landed in the podium.