PH's Kiyomi Watanabe wins silver in judo

Nami Nabekura of Japan and Kiyomi Watanabe grapple during the Judo Women’s -63kg Gold Medal Match of the 2018 Asian Games at JCC Plenary Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday. Nabekura took the gold with Watanabe winning the Philippines’ first silver medal.

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After Margielyn Didal gold, Cebu mayor vows to build skate park in city

Now that Margielyn Arda Didal has won a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games, she no longer has to worry about being chased by the police while skateboarding in the streets of Cebu City.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña promised to build a skating park for aspiring athletes to follow in Didal's footsteps.


In a Facebook post, Osmeña congratulated the 19-year-old Cebuana for her performance in the Games.

“Margielyn Didal of Lahug just won Gold in the (20)18 Asian Games in Indonesia. She also represented Cebu in the UK last May where she was the only competitor from Asia. Congratulations Margielyn!” he said. 

“Because the awareness raised by people like you, Cebu City will be building a skate park in the SRP. My sister is personally donating P5M to your cause.”

Didal previously lamented that most skateboarders have been subjected to discrimination, as they are considered a nuisance when they skate along the roads or sidewalks.

“Nag-ii-skate kami sa Cebu sa streets lang,” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo. “Hinahabol kami ng pulis ng security ‘pag may nakikitang nagiiskate.”

“Minsan 'pag nasa mall pag may hawak na skate board bawal nang pumasok.” 

Osmeña said Didal will no longer worry about such things. In fact, he even invited her to help design the proposed skate park.

“As the expert, your input is of course welcome on the park’s design. Soon, people like you will finally have a place that is safe, free from traffic, and able to call your own,” he said.

Didal’s golden performance in the Games’ women’s street skate event netted her a total of windfall of P6 million in incentives from the government and private patrons.

The 19-year-old will use the bonus to make sure that parents won’t have to scrounge for money again.
“First of all gagamitin para sa family po,” said Didal. “Baka magtayo ng negosyo para sa family din. Para hindi na kelangang magwork ng mama at papa ko.”

Didal is the fourth among 5 children. Her father works as a carpenter while her mother sells street food in Lahug.

She left school after finishing Grade 7 to go through extensive training overseas. Didal had to sacrifice her studies to able to provide financial support to her family. 

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Asian Games: Weightlifter sets eternal record, two Koreas in tears

Iran's Sohrab Moradi set a weightlifting world record that could last forever on Saturday as tearful North and South Korean athletes combined to win a highly symbolic medal at the Asian Games.

Olympic champion Moradi, who served a two-year doping ban from 2013, hoisted a 189 kilogram snatch en route to victory in the men's 94 kilograms class, breaking weightlifting's longest standing world record set in 1999.

Moradi's lift could stay on the record books in perpetuity as after the Games in Indonesia, all the weight classes will change beginning with November's world championships.

"I feel very happy to know that my name will always remain on all the 94 kg world records," beamed the Iranian.

Moradi's triumph for the ages came on a day when the Unified Korea team, testament to this year's marked improvement in Korean ties, won an emotional dragon boating bronze medal. 

The North and South Korean athletes were in tears as they sung "Arirang", a traditional Korean folk song, to celebrate winning their medal.

Both Korean teams marched together at the opening ceremony and they have also joined forces in rowing and women's basketball at the regional Olympics.

"I was deeply emotional," said South Korean canoeist Eun Jeong-byun. "We're divided and forbidden from seeing each other but we both know the same song and speak the same language."

- Cat's amazing -

Controversy marred the start of the athletics competition when Japanese marathon winner Hiroto Inoue was accused of pushing Bahrain's Elhassan Elabbassi and denying him gold.

Both athletes had complaints rejected by race officials after they made contact during a thrilling sprint finish, which Inoue won by a fraction of a second.

"The number one (leader) pushed me," said Elabbassi. "I would have won."

Later, a cat strayed onto the track during the women's 100m hurdles heats, after China's Su Bingtian, joint holder of Asia's men's 100m record, eased into the semis.

China continued its dominance of the women's hammer, claiming both gold and silver for the fifth consecutive Asian Games -- a record stretching back to the sport's introduction.

And Daria Maslova won Kyrgyzstan's first ever track medal at the regional Olympics, storming home in the women's 10,000m with a time of 32:07.23.

In tennis, Uzbekistan's world number 75 Denis Istomin beat China's Wu Yibing in three sets to win men's singles gold -- before jumping on a plane for a 27-hour journey to the US Open in New York.

Istomin, 31, came from behind to beat the reigning US Open boys' champion 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) in Palembang. He plays his first-round match at the season's final Grand Slam on Monday.

"I think it shows it means a lot to me and to my country. I always represent my country, never lose an opportunity," Istomin said.

World champion Kento Momota was sent crashing out of the men's badminton by Anthony Ginting as the home favorite raised the roof at the Jakarta arena.

At the end of day seven, China had extended their lead on the medals table, with 72 golds to Japan's 34 and 25 for South Korea.

About 17,000 athletes and officials are taking part in the 18th Asian Games, the biggest sports event in Indonesia's history.

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Swimming: Olympic champ Joseph Schooling moving in ‘right direction’ for 2020

JAKARTA—Joseph Schooling did not claim to have swam a perfect race in winning Singapore's first gold medal of the 18th Asian Games but he feels the victory is another stepping stone towards the defense of his 100m butterfly title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Texas-based swimmer earned Singapore's first Olympic gold medal when he won the event at the 2016 Rio Games but has since struggled with inconsistency, managing only a bronze at the world championships in Hungary last year.

Schooling said winning gold in Jakarta on Wednesday, in a Games record of 51.04, brought him "relief and joy" and hopefully signaled an end to his dip in form.

"I've been up and down over the last two years but it's part of the cycle, right? You can't always be in tip-top performance," he said at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatic Center late on Wednesday.

"What's important is if you're not feeling at your best, step up, grind it through and try to win the race. That's what defines a champion."

The 23-year-old, who will be going for a second gold after topping Thursday's 50m butterfly heats (23.84), plans to swim in Europe before returning home for a World Cup leg in November ahead of next year's world championships in South Korea.

"I'm heading in the right direction ... I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable, so I envision the next two years getting better and better heading into Korea and Tokyo," he added.

He was happy with his time in Jakarta, which was the fifth fastest of the year and bettered his gold-winning 51.76 at the 2014 Asian Games, but felt it was "just another stepping stone" towards his ultimate goal.

"You build on it each meet, each year and you finally get to the Olympics," he said. "This is one of the building years to get to do what I want to do in Tokyo.

"Are things going according to plan? Yes, I'd say so. I'm happy with where I'm at. I'm definitely in a lot better shape than I was last year. Hopefully I can keep building on that."

And if he needs motivation, Schooling says criticism helps.

"I think criticism is good," he said.

"If everyone's on your side, praising you, it might get to your head. But I think this is a great check and balance for me.

"(I've) always proven my critics wrong. It gives me more motivation to go to practice, to race harder, so I can prove people wrong." (Editing by Peter Rutherford )

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Asian Games: History beckons for teen Pinoy gymnast Carlos Yulo

JAKARTA—Carlos Yulo looks to reap the fruits of a comprehensive three-year training program that made him decide to leave the Philippines and call Japan his second home.

The 18-year-old eyes history, as he aims to win the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in artistic gymnastics in the 2018 Asian Games at Jakarta International Expo Hall.

On Monday, Yulo topped the preliminary round of the floor exercises competition, giving him a berth in the medal stage on Thursday. 

The final is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila).

The two-time Palarong Pambasa champion has been training in Japan the past three years, a program that required Yulo to practice eight hours a day, six days a week, under coach Munehiro Kugimiya, with the assistance of the Japanese Gymnastics Federation, which is helping him to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Yulo is one of a few elite Filipino athletes being supported by Siklab Foundation and the MVP Sports Foundation.

Yulo, who came in eighth in the men’s all-around with a score of 80.750, an event dominated by China on Monday, burst into the international scene early this year with top-3 finishes in 3 legs of the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series organized by the International Gymnastics Federation, the sport's world governing body.

He won a bronze medal in the vault event in Melbourne; a vault silver in Baku, Azerbaijan; and a floor silver in Doha, Qatar.

Lone Pinoy bet confident in sport-climbing

In Palembang, meanwhile, Gerard Verosil was upbeat about his chances in sport climbing at Jakabaring Sports City, a discipline that's debuting in these Games.

“Mahirap pong mag-prediksiyon. Basta confident po akong magpe-perform ng maayos dito,” said Verosil, the only Filipino entry in the field of 34.

The 17-year-old is fresh off a semifinal finish in the Asian Cup Bouldering and Speed event in Bangkok in June, which served as his tune-up for the Asian Games.

Competitors will take on a 12-meter wall during the four-day competition.

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Asian Games: What will gold winner Hidilyn Diaz do with P6-M prize money?

JAKARTA—Six million pesos.

That’s the amount of money that Hidilyn Diaz is set to receive after she won a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games weightlifting competition in Jakarta on Tuesday

The Rio Olympics silver medalist made history once more for the country when she lifted a combined 207 kilograms in the women’s 53-kg division, edging competitors from Turkmenistan and Thailand.

“Siyempre, masayang-masaya ako,” said Diaz after her emotional triumph. "’Yung training na nagawa ko, may resulta. ‘Yung outcome, maganda.”

Diaz, 27, is set to receive a total of P6 million in incentives: P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee, P2 million from the Philippine Sports Commission through the Republic Act 10699, P1 million from the Siklab Pilipinas Sports Foundation, and another P1 million from Philippine ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Wee.

The ambassador made the commitment on Monday night.

“Wow,” Diaz said when informed of her windfall. “Ano'ng gagawin ko?”

“Siguro, business,” she said. “Kailangan na matuto sa pag-manage ng pera. Invest.”

Diaz added that she will give part of her incentives to her mother and to her coaches, as well as her church. She memorably used her prize money from the 2016 Olympic Games to build a weightlifting gym in her hometown in Zamboanga City.

After the Asian Games, Diaz intends to go back to school at College of Saint Benilde. She will begin her buildup to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in November, when she competes in the World Weightlifting Championships in Turkmenistan.

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Hidilyn Diaz wins PH's first gold

The Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz Philippines competes at the 2018 Asian Games Women's Weightlifting, 53kg Division, in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday. 

The Olympic silver medalist went on to win the first gold for the country in the Asian Games. 

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Singapore pin hopes on Schooling as David seeks fifth gold

SINGAPORE - Singapore will be looking to make a splash in the pool at the Asian Games in neighbouring Indonesia this month as Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling leads a strong swim team aiming to surpass the six medals they claimed at Incheon four years ago.

Texas-based Schooling made history for the tiny island nation when he claimed its first Olympic success in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Rio Games and he will hope to improve on the three medals, one of each colour, he took home from Korea.

"My goal for Asian Games is to do my best for the country, bring glory to Singapore and helping out the younger kids, we have a young team and I'm super excited particularly for the relays," the 23-year-old told local media.

Schooling is pencilled in for five events in Jakarta as he builds momentum towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and while he is aiming high in Indonesia, Singapore is refusing to set medal goals for the record-sized squad it is sending to the Games.

A total of 265 athletes in 21 sports will be making the short trip across the Java Sea with Singapore officials looking for success in three specific disciplines.

"With the largest Team Singapore contingent heading to the Asian Games, we are certainly expecting the best of them," Asian Games chef de mission Lee Wung Yew said at a recent flag presentation ceremony.

"If you are looking at medal expectations, we are looking at three main sports -- sailing, bowling and swimming -- but we are also looking at possibly nice surprises in other sports as well."

Across the causeway in Malaysia, squash all-time great Nicol David will be hoping to emerge from what is likely to be her final Asian Games appearance with a fifth individual gold medal, 20 years after winning her first as a 14-year-old.

"The Asian Games is held once every four years... I'll not take things for granted," said David, who also has two team golds and has returned to Kuala Lumpur from her home in Amsterdam to focus her training on the Asian Games.

David will be the top seed in the individual event but she is expecting a tough challenge from opponents representing Hong Kong and India.

Malaysia, who like Singapore will send a record contingent to Indonesia, will also be hoping for success in tenpin bowling, diving, karate, badminton, track cycling and sepaktakraw after the nation claimed 33 medals, five golds, in Incheon.

However, the 440-strong squad will be missing long-time world number one badminton player Lee Chong Wei, whose hopes of finally winning a maiden Asian Games title at the age of 35 have been scuppered by a respiratory-related illness. (Reporting by John O'Brien; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Pinay golfer mistaken for a real princess

INCHEON -- Brief stories from the Asian Games on Tuesday:

Royal treatment

Filipino golfer Princess Superal caused panic among Asian Games organizers when she was mistaken for a real royal, the Philippine Star reported.

Philippines chef de mission Ricardo Garcia received an unexpected courtesy call from an Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC) official who apologized for what he thought was a diplomatic lapse.

"The IAGOC felt they made an error in not being able to recognize a princess from the Philippines," Garcia was quoted as saying. "An official was so apologetic for what they thought was a lapse. I assured them that there was no oversight on their part. That our golfer, in fact one of our hopes for the gold medal here, is named Princess but that she is not a princess of any part of the Philippines but a princess of our team just the same."

*****

Medal to muddle for Al-Garni

Mohamad Al-Garni's joy at winning 5,000 meters gold quickly turned to frustration after a late-night dope test caused him to miss the last bus home. According to team officials, the Qatari did not get back to the athletes' village until about 3 a.m., giving him little time to rest before his 1,500m heats on Monday morning. However, the Moroccan-born Al-Garni sailed through the heats and duly won the 1,500m final that evening.

*****

Drummed out of the arena
Indonesian badminton fans accused the South Korean hosts of being sore losers after they had their trademark drum confiscated by Asian Games security. The fans drummed and sang as Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan beat South Korea's world number ones Lee Yong-Dae and Yoo Yeon-Seong in the men's doubles final on Sunday, but one day later the drum was persona non grata.

"They were fine to let us in with our drum yesterday, but today the security at the same gate told us that we couldn't bring it in. They made us hand it over and we'll have to collect it later," said Akiko Rivel Lumintan, an Indonesian factory worker who lives in Korea. "Maybe they're disappointed because we won the gold medal yesterday."

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