PALEMBANG, Indonesia: The 2011 Southeast Asian Games goes full swing today with 43 gold medals at stake including 11 in centrepiece athletics competition.
The national track and field squad is looking to deliver the country’s first gold medal when seasoned runner Rene
Herrera defends his crown in men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Jakabaring Sports Complex.
Hernani Sore is the other Filipino entry in that event.
Former champion Henry Dagmil, on the other hand, is out to reclaim his glory days as he sees action in men’s long jump along with Benigno Marayag while Eliezer Sunang (men’s shot put), Loralie Sermona (women’s hammer throw), and Julius Nierras and Archand Christian Bagsit (men’s 400-meter) are expected to go all out against their respective fancied rivals.
Dagmil registered a record-breaking performance in the 2007 edition held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand but dropped to third spot in Vientiane, Laos two years ago due to injury.
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) President Go Teng Kok earlier tipped Herrera as sure gold winner citing his impressive exploits in the past editions.
The team won seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals in 2009. Veteran campaigners Jayson Valdez (10m air rifle), Tac Padilla (25m standard pistol) and Emerito Concepcion (50m rifle prone) will also begin their bids in shooting competition.
In billiards, reigning world 8-ball champion Dennis Orcollo and former SEAG gold medalist Warren Kiamco take center stage in men’s 8-ball singles while Luis Saberdo and Felipe Tauro Jr. compete in men’s English billiard singles elimination round.
Divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ceseil Domenios will seek redemption in women’s 3-meter springboard along with Jaime Asok, D’xisme’n Dumagut and Ryan Rexel Fabriga who entered in men’s 10m platform.
The other Filipino bets to start their campaigns are chess masters Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa, Catherine Perena, Rulp Ylem Jose, Rogelio Antonio and John Paul Gomez; swimmers Jose Joaquin Gonzales, Banjo Borja, Jasmine Alkhaldi, Dhil Anderson Lee and Johansen Aguilar; gymnasts Jean Nathan Monteclaro, Christian Sean Monteclaro, Fortu-nato Abad, Reyland Capellan and Jayfranz Villegas; karatekas Racquel Luzarez and Orencio delos Santos; and the Bridge, paragliding and softball teams.In Jakarta, Kayak entry Alex Gene-ralo (4:11.750) placed fifth behind Thai Wichan Jaitieng (3:55.590) in the 1000m event while Dany Funelas (4:48.070) was fifth and tail end of the 1000m race topped by defending champion Eka Octarorianus of Indonesia (4:16.000).
Singapore’s Teo Guang Yi Lucas (4:00.630) and one-named Indon Muchlis (4:02.870) took silver and bronze in kayak while last time’s canoe silver winner Win Htike of Myanmar took home another silver medal and Van Wang Tran of Vietnam (4:27.640) settled for bronze.
The Generalo siblings will be vying next in the men’s 200-meter kayak singles and doubles while Funelas and Norwell Cases compete in the men’s canoe 200-meter singles and doubles. It will be Alex’s turn to paddle in the 200-meter singles while Funelas, who had been reluctant to compete in the 1,000 meters, is expected to come up with a respectable showing in the shorter 200-meter distance.
Defending champion Thailand took an early lead with three gold and one bronze medals followed by host Indonesia with two gold, two silver and one bronze medals, Myanmar with two silvers, Singapore with one silver and two bronzes, and Vietnam with one gold. -Manila Times
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