PALEMBANG — Southeast Asian Games champion Kim Mangrobang and vastly-improved Fil-Am Kim Kilgroe see action for the Philippines against Asia’s big guns in the 18th Asian Games triathlon competitions unfolding on Friday.
The women’s race fires off at 7:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. in Manila) at the Jakabaring Sport City complex.
The champion four years ago, Japan’s Ai Ueda, is not seeing action but the field remains loaded with talent including Japan’ Yuka Sato, No. 20 in the International Triathlon rankings.
“With her present from, a top 5 finish would not be farfetched for Kim, and if she steps up, I woudn’t be surprised of a podium finish,” said coach Ani de Leon-Brown of the Europe-trained Mangrobang, who placed ninth in the Incheon Games four years ago.
Two-time SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano, the 2017 SEA Games silver medalist, will see action on Saturday in the men’s race that Brown said would be even tougher considering there will be more entries.
“If either Nikko or John finish in the top 10 we would be happy,” Brown said.
In the mixed relay on Sunday, Huelgas and Mangrobang will be joined by Claire Adorna, the 2017 Singapore SEAG gold medalist, and Mark Hosana.
“Claire and Mark were chosen (to be part of the team) because they were really meant for the mixed relay, which promises to be an exciting race,” Brown stressed.
While she had no complaints about the swim leg at the JSC man-made lake, the coach was a bit worried about the bike course “because we saw there were still grains of sand on the road during practice. This could result in accidents once the triathletes race around the route, which is a bit technical.”
Brown said that they were assured by Asian Games organizers that they would clear the road of sand to make it safe for the riders.
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