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    Bachmann counting on Hidilyn, Obiena to reverse PH fortunes at Asiad

    PSC chief still hopeful Philippines can surpass four-gold haul from last Asiad
    Sep 28, 2023
    margielyn didal asian games
    PHOTO: AP

    HANGZHOU, China — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann is not yet losing hope, saying that Filipino athletes can still deliver despite their slow start in the 19th Asian Games.

    In a conversation with Filipino sportswriters, Bachmann said he is counting on athletes like EJ Obiena, Hidilyn Diaz, and the national boxers to come up with a strong performance and jack up the medal tally of Team Philippines.

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    So far, the Philippines officially has a silver medal from wushu fighter Arnel Mandal and four bronze medals courtesy of Patrick King Perez of taekwondo, and Jones Inso, Gideon Fred Padua and Clemente Tabugara Jr., also in wushu.

    The contingent, however, suffered disappointment after heralded athletes Kayla Sanchez, Margielyn Didal, and Irish Magno failed to deliver.

    John Marvin Asian Games

    Sanchez, a two-time Olympic medalist for Canada, has yet to win a single medal entering the last two days of swimming competition while Didal was dethroned in the women’s street event of the skateboarding competition after suffering a nagging ankle injury.

    Magno, a Tokyo Olympian, also fell by the wayside as she bowed to Nigina Ukmatova of Uzbekistan in the Round of 16 of the women’s 54-kilogram event.

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      Still, Bachmann remains hopeful.

      “I’m still hoping,” Bachmann said, adding that the Philippines can still surpass their previous achievement of four gold medals in the previous Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.

      “I’m still confident that we will beat last year’s medal of four golds. I was with (boxing chairman) Ricky Vargas last night and he told me that they can get at least two medals. I’m looking at EJ Obiena and other athletes who can pull off a surprise.”

      Obiena is brightest hope

      Obiena, the second-best pole vaulter in the world, is the country’s brightest hope as he is holding the Asian record of 6.0 meters.

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      Bachmann, however, made special mention of Diaz and the vaunted weightlifting team featuring rising stars Vanessa Sarno, Rosegie Ramos, and Elreen Ando.

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        “You still have your weightlifting. Hopefully, they can add [to the medal haul],” said Bachmann, who has been busy visiting the athletes and watching their games together with PSC executive director Paulo Tatad.

        “What we’re doing now is going around, watching a full game, be it no medal or medal chances. We’re here to show support.”

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        PHOTO: AP
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