DARWIN, Australia – The Philippines collected 10 gold medals in Day One of the 2019 Arafura Games on Saturday.
The athletics team captured seven gold medals, while the swimming team claimed three in an auspicious start to the Philippines’ campaign supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Standard Insurance.
Leading the charge in Day One was Batang Pinoy standout Lora Micah Amogius, who became the first double gold medalist for the Philippines after bagging the 13-14 100-meter backstroke and the 200-meter individual medley.
Amogius clocked one minute, 10.53 seconds in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, before finishing with a time of 2:33.63 in the 200-meter individual medley.
Ivo Nikolai Enot won the men’s 13-14 100-meter backstroke gold with a time of 1:05.52 in the multisports competition for emerging athletes.
Winners in the athletics are Abigail Manzano (women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase), Nicko Caparoso (men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase), Bruce Fernia (men’s javelin throw), John Lloyd Cabalo (men’s 400-meter run), Jessel Lumapas (women’s 400-meter run), Mark Anthony Casena (men’s triple jump), and the men’s 4x100-meter relay.
Meanwhile, the Philippine muay team will begin play on Sunday at the Darwin Convention Centre with Jenelyn Olsim opening the squad’s campaign in the senior female elite A -54kg semifinals.
National coach Billy Alumno said the Arafura Games muay competition is a qualifier for the 2021 World Games in which the gold medalists in the -57kg and -63kg class will automatically clinch a berth in the World Games.
Phillip Delarmino and Ryan Jakiri will compete in the men’s -57kg and -63kg respectively, with their bouts scheduled in the next days.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
