In just two days of competition, the Philippines has already exceeded its total gold medal haul in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
Leading the gold medal performances Monday was Hidilyn Diaz who snatched the gold in the Women’s 55-kilogram event in weightlifting.
In Arnis, the men’s division went home as the overall champion with its four gold medals, courtesy of Dexter Balambao in the Bantamweight division, Niño Mark Talledo in the Featherweight division, Villardo Cunamay in the Lightweight division and Mike Bañares in the Welterweight division.
Edmar Tacuel won the gold in the men’s Pencak Silat.
Filipino triathletes also scored the gold in the mixed relay.
Monica Torres bested the competition in the Women’s individual duathlon while Lea Denise Belgira topped the cycling downhill event.
It’s a back to back win for the Philippines in the 3-on-3 basketball as the women’s Gilas Pilipinas team bested Thailand, 17-13 for the gold. The men’s team thrashed Indonesia, 21-9.
In dance sport alone, the Philippines snatched 10 gold medals out of 13 that was contested.
In Sepak Takraw, the Philippine team bested Indonesia in the women’s hoop event and the men’s team overcame Laos.
Agatha Wong won the gold in the women’s Taichi Quan in Wushu.
In gymnastics, Carlos Yulo won the gold in gymnastics artistic.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino congratulated the Filipino athletes for the impressive medal haul on the first two days of the SEA Games.
Tolentino praised the strong start of the home team and he expects local athletes to bag more than 100 gold medals by the end of the games.
“Congratulations to all gold winners of first day. I was miss by 2 medals. My prediction was 25 golds on first day minimum,” Tolentino said.
Meanwhile, the Kayak and sailing events in Subic Bay as well as surfing in La Union were postponed due to Typhoon Tisoy barreling through much of Luzon.
But SEA Games organizers said there will be no extension of the games stressing that contingency plans are in place.
Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia Wei Jizhong commended the apology and handling of SEA Games organizers over logistical glitches experienced at the start of the games.
He believed the Philippines is capable of hosting even bigger sports events and urged the country to bid for 2030 Asian games hosting.
“To have some problem in the beginning of the game in all the game including Asian games,we have similar happened. This is only the beginning but the Republic President and Speaker of parliament apologizing, this is the first time,” Jizhong said. (Jasper Camilo)