JAKARTA – Heartbreaks were the order of the day for the Philippine campaign on Thursday in the 18th Asian Games.
Carlos Yulo, a heavy favorite to win another gold for the Philippines in gymnastics, settled for seventh place in the men’s floor exercise final after topping Tuesday’s qualifying round.
Hours later, the Philippine Blu Girls failed in their second shot at a guaranteed bronze medal on when they lost to Chinese Taipei for the second time, 6-3, in the semifinals to settle for fourth.
That left the Philippines shut out for the day for the first time in this showpiece, in the process slipping to 19th spot in the medal tally with a one-gold, five-bronze output.
Elsewhere, Arven Alcantara (men’s 68kg) and Baby Jessica Canabal (women’s 49kg) only made it to the quarterfinals in taekwondo while Robert Garcia, Yvonne Dalida, and Jemyca Aribado reaching the round-of-16 in singles play in squash.
Nicole Tagle lost to Kang Chaeyoung of Korea in the round-of-32 of the recurve women’s individual in archery but the Philippine bowling trios only finished 10th and 25th.
However, golf is off to a good start with the women’s team in fourth place with a 143 first-round total from Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Kaye Go.
Saso is in also running seventh in individual race after a 71.
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