Filipina jin Kirstie Alora sets sights on 2020 after bowing out of Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — Kirstie Elaine Alora was left in in tears after she exited the Olympic taekwondo competitions, ending the Philippine campaign in Rio.

But Alora says that the losses will serve as a lesson for her and fuel her to do better as she eyes a return in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Another sad moment na second chance ko na pero still, parang pinagkait sa akin. Siguro kailangan ko pa na ’wag itigil ’yung journey ko sa pagtataekwondo,” said Alora.

Alora lost in her first match against Maria Espinoza of Mexico, but got another shot in a repechage when Espinoza reached the finals of the women’s +67kg division.

She needed two wins to get the bronze medal, but got tripped on the first fight.

Going up against a taller Dislam, Alora gained a 5-4 lead in the final round with 20 seconds to play but the Moroccan landed shots to the body in the final seconds to take command.

In her final attempt to win the bout, Alora attempted a kick to the head that could have given her three points but the strike didn't register on the scoreboard and not even a video review could overturn it.

Alora said she had plans of retiring if she won a medal in Rio, but now she wants another shot.

“Instinct ko kasi is if magkamedal ako, maybe this is the last. I think may gusto pa si God sa akin na have a long journey for my taekwondo career,” said Alora.

“For this journey, maybe it’s God’s will na kung ano ’yung para sa akin, ayaw pa Niya ako huminto. Maybe gusto Niya ako maging Asian champion or world champion before maging Olympic champion,” said Alora.

Alora said she will have to work even harder for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I think kailangan ko pa mag-ensayo to get a good ranking kasi ’yung mga nakakalaban ko have a good standing. ’Yun talaga kailangan ko i-pursue na taasan ’yung ranking ko. I need to have a medal dun sa mga sasalihan ko. ’Yun ang magmomotivate sa akin na pag-igihan pa,” said Alora.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

Read More

Eric Cray falls short of reaching Olympic 400m hurdles finals after finishing seventh in semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO - Eric Cray bowed out of the semifinals of the Olympic 400-meter hurdles on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro (Wednesday, Manila time).

The Fil-American track athlete clocked 49.37 for a disappointing seventh in the first semifinal, failing to match or much less surpass his 49.05 in the qualifying heats two days ago after failing to clear one hurdle.

American Kerron Clement topped the first of three semifinal races with a 48.26-second run, towing Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru (48.85) to the final.

Four runners from the second semifinal led by Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte in 48.32 advanced to the gold medal run.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

Read More

Marestella Torres claims she hurt hip after awkward landing in long jump warmups

RIO DE JANEIRO — Marestella Torres-Sunang said she hurt her left hip during warm-ups and she ended up jumping a little too cautious in the competition proper of the women’s long jump in the Olympics on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

“Hindi ako maka-atake ng husto. Pinipigilan ko kasi kapag binibilisan ko ‘yung takbo ko, may sumasakit,” said Torres-Sunang.

The three-time Olympian failed to reach the finals after coming up with a disappointing 6.22 on her first attempt and even shorter leaps in the next two.

Just last month, Sunang jumped 6.72 to qualify for Rio and a few months back won the national open with a 6.6 leap.

Her 6.22 put her in 14th spot in Group B.

It was sadly a repeat of her London stint, where the best she could do was also 6.22 after earlier registering 6.71 to win gold in the Southeast Asian Games.

Torres said she landed awkwardly during the warm-up, hitting the same spot a competitor from Great Britain also landed into.

“Dun ako na-shoot dun sa tinalunan nung sinundan ko. Sumakit ’yung hips ko,” said Torres-Sunang.

Sunang noted a spot in the finals was achievable, with the last spot in the finals claimed by Britain’s Jazmin Sawyers with a 6.53-m leap.

“Sayang kasi kung makikita mo ’yung result talaga, kung makuha ko lang ’yung 6.40, 6.50, mababa rin halos lahat,” said Torres-Sunang.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

Read More

German Olympic canoe coach dies in Rio after taxi crash

A German canoe slalom coach dies after suffering serious head injuries in a taxi accident at the Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - A German canoe slalom coach died on Monday, August 15 after he suffered serious head injuries in a taxi accident at the Rio Olympics, team officials said.

Stefan Henze, 35, a former world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist, died in hospital surrounded by close family members.

German flags will be flown at half-mast at Olympic sites on Tuesday in honor of Henze, who was travelling from the canoe slalom venue in a taxi when the accident happened in the early hours of Friday.

"We are endlessly sad on this day. Words cannot describe what we as the Olympic team feel after this terrible loss," said German Olympic committee president Alfons Hoermann.

Henze's family released a statement saying: "We know Stefan's own Olympic thoughts live on in a lot of people."

Henze needed emergency surgery after Friday's crash and doctors had described his condition as life-threatening.

Christian Kading, a sports scientist who works with the team, was also in the taxi but he was not seriously hurt.

"Today the sport for which our whole team came to Rio de Janiero is at the back of our minds," said chef de mission Michael Vesper.

"Our thoughts are with Stefan Henze's relatives who had the possibility to say goodbye here."

The German delegation will also hold a service for Henze in the athletes' village on Tuesday.

An International Olympic Committee statement said: "The IOC mourns the death of a true Olympian." – Rappler.com

Read More

PH Olympic bet Eric Cray advances to 400m hurdles semifinals

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Filipino-American trackster Eric Crayqualified for the semifinals of the men's 400m hurdles in the 2016 Summer Olympics on Monday, August 15 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

The 27-year-old Cray, born to a Filipina mother in Olongapo City and an American father but raised in Texas, finished third in heat 4 of round 1 of competition with a time of 49.05 seconds. His personal best time is 48.98 seconds. The top 3 finishers of each of the 6 heats will advance to the semifinals along with the next 6 fastest runners.

The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, who was feeling confident coming into the race, will run the semifinals on Wednesday, August 17. The final, should he make it, will be on Thursday, August 18.

Aside from Cray, there are only two other Filipinos left in contention at Rio with long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang set to compete on Wednesday, and taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora taking the mat Saturday for the 67kg Round of 16.

Only weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has put the Philippines on the medal table with a silver for the country's very first Olympic hardware in 20 years.

Below is the full list of semifinalists for men's 400m hurdles

Screengrab from Rio Olympics website

– Rappler.com

Author: Jane Bracher

Read More

PH marathoner Tabal refused to quit despite Rio heat

'Others were collapsing on the road. Sometimes I also wanted to stop already but I forced myself to finish,' says Olympian Mary Joy Tabal

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Mary Joy Tabal of the Philippines could not handle Brazil’s noontime heat Sunday and finished way outside her targeted time in the women’s marathon of the Rio Olympics.

Tabal aimed at surpassing her personal best of two hours 43 minutes and 31 seconds in the race that started and ended at Sambrodome, the venue of the world-famous Rio Carnival.

But she failed to live up to her own expectations, terribly suffering under the heat and finishing with a time of 3:02:27, which was good for 124th among 157 starters.

Jemima Jelagat Sumgong gave Kenya its first Olympic gold in women’s marathon, winning with a time of 2:24:04, which is just under a minute off the Olympic record.

Eunice Jepkirul Kirwa of Bahrain took the silver medal in 2:24:13 while Ethiopian Mare Dibaba bagged the bronze with a time of 2:24:30.

Three runners from the United States finished inside the top 10, joined by one more entry from Ethiopia, Belarus, Bahrain and South Korea.

The top finishers were already done with the press interviews along the finish line area when the lone Filipina entry crossed the finish, cheered on by the crowd.

Tabal was 38 minutes and 23 seconds behind the winner from Kenya.

Tabal was so exhausted after the race she was on the verge of collapse. Medical staff of the Rio Olympics attended to her immediately.

It took some time before Tabal regained her composure. Medics offered to wheel her out but said there was really no need for the wheelchair.

A total of 24 did not finish the race.

Tabal said she saw runners quit during the race, most of them in the final 10 kms. Runners crossing the finish line and falling to the ground was a common sight.

“Yung iba talaga tumutumba na sa daan. Masyado mainit kanina. Minsan gusto ko na din tumigil pero pinilit ko tapusin ang karera,” she said.

(Others were collapsing on the road. Sometimes I also wanted to stop already but I forced myself to finish.)

“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ako papayag na DNF (did not finish) ang Pilipinas. Kaya slowly but surely, tinapos ko. Hindi ko na inisip yung time,” added Tabal.

(I told myself I will not allow DNF for the Philippines. That’s why slowly but surely I finished it. I didn’t think of the time anymore.)

It was a gallant effort on her side even if she fell way short of her target. She said on the eve of the race that she was targeting a time faster than her 2:43:31.

“Kahit 2:40 sana,” she said.

But Tabal said the heat slowed her down. She also rued the lack of water stations along the 42.195 km route but said it’s not really the reason for her failure.

All the other runners went through the same ordeal. Others say Tabal had suffered from burnout after running a marathon too many this year.

“Ginawa ko na lang lahat ng makakaya ko para makatapos. Sa last 10 kilometers para na talagang bibigay ang katawan ko,” said Tabal.

(I just gave everything I did everything I could to finish. In the last 10KM it was as if my body was really about to give up.)

“Pero nasa Olympics pa naman ako kaya pinilit ko talaga. Inisip ko na lang ang mga kababayan natin na nanonood sa akin. Hindi ako puwede tumigil,” she added.

(But I am in the Olympics, that’s why I really pushed myself. I just thought of our countrymen who are watching me. I could not stop.) –Rappler.com

Read More

PH golfer Tabuena falls further behind after round 3

FLAG AND COUNTRY. Miguel Tabuena has not found his form in Rio. Photo by Erik S Lesser/EPA

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino golfer Miguel Tabuena fired a two-over 73 for round 3 on Saturday, August 14 (Sunday Manila time) to fall further out of contention as golf continues at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Tabuena, 21, entered the penultimate day of golf competition at 6-over after two rounds and wasn't able to sink enough birdies (3 on 5, 10 and 11) to compensate for the 5 bogeys, include 3 of the first 4 holes. He was at +8 at the time of this article's publication, good enough for 56th place out of 60. He is now 19 shots behind Great Britain's Justin Rose, who is in first place at 11-under.

Tabuena had been experiencing pain in his right shoulder, he said after the second round. – Rappler.com

Read More

Mary Joy Tabal bares almost giving up on Olympic dream but vows to break own record in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO—Mary Joy Tabal is looking to make the most out of her Olympic stint, which nearly didn’t materialize, by putting on a respectable finish in the women’s marathon.

Tabal qualified here after making the standard at a meet in Ottawa, which she bared was not part of her schedule.

Initially, Tabal had given up hopes of a stint in Rio after failing to qualify for the Olympics through the Boston Marathon last April where the Cebuana runner finished 20th but clocked two hours, 49 minutes, one second—way off the 2:45:00 Olympic stand

“Wala sa plano ko ‘yun,” said Tabal. “After nung Boston, disappointed na ako. Hindi ko na alam kung ano mangyayari.”

“Tapos may nagsabi sa akin na may Ottawa pa. May kaibigan ako na nag-iistay sa Canada, tatakbo daw siya, sabi niya maganda ‘yung ruta,” she added.

Thanks to this spontaneous decision, Tabal achieved her goal last May when she timed 2:43:31 in the said event to gain a spot in the Olympics.

Tabal and the rest of the marathoners will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, (8:30 p.m. Sunday Manila time). She admits that winning a medal depends on the pace of the race, but nevertheless her focus remains on breaking her personal best.

“To be specific, gusto ko i-beat ‘yung 2:43:00 sana or below. Magandang finish ‘yun. Sana maganda ang kundisyon on race day,” said Tabal.

Tabal also admitted that she learned a lot from her stint in the Boston Marathon, one of the most prestigious events in the world, especially in pacing herself in a race.

“First 21km, gusto ko normal lang para hindi ako mag-overspeed. Ayoko ‘yung baka last 10k, maglakad ako. Sa Boston Marathon kasi, parang worst ‘yung nangyari sa akin kasi hindi ko rin na-anticipate na maraming akyat. Bumagal talaga ang pace ko especially sa last 10k,” said Tabal.

“Gusto ko, pareho lang ‘yung sa Ottawa. Relax lang sa start, kung kaya ko bilisan sa last 10k, dun ko ibibigay ang lahat,” she added.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

Read More

‘Diesel’ Marestella seeks Olympic atonement

photo (c) Philippine Star

RIO DE JANEIRO—Marestella Torres-Sunang compares herself to a diesel engine during competitions. She attains power to the max after a sufficient warmup.

The three-time Olympian attempts to atone for her below-par performances in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 when she vies in the long jump event of athletics, which fires off on Aug. 12 at the iconic Maracana Stadium here.

“I have a problem with warmups because entries constantly fight for space,” the mother of a two-year-old son said in Filipino. “It takes sometime for me to get good jumps. I’ll try to practice in the warmup runway outside the stadium.”

Sunang said she’ll use her vast experience this time in order to do better against a 32-strong field bristling with more than a dozen reigning and former world and continental champions.
“Now I know how to compete,” said the 35-year-old from San Jose, Negros Oriental. “I’m more inspired now because of Eliamar Matvie (her child).”

Source: Ted Melendres of Inquirer Sports

Read More

Hidilyn Diaz targets gold at 2020 Olympics

ANOTHER GO. Hidilyn Diaz plans a return to the Olympics when it goes to Tokyo. Photo by Jedwin M Llobrera/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina Olympian Hidilyn Diaz just entered her name in the record books of Philippine sports history, thanks to her performance in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but she’s already aiming for even higher goals when the next summer games arrive in 2020.

Diaz, who won the silver medal in the women’s 53kg division of the weightlifting competition in Rio De Janeiro this past week, arrived in the Philippines on Emirates Flight 332 with fellow Olympian Nestor Colonia and coach Alfonsito Aldanete on Thursday, August 11, and told the media she has no plans of retiring.

“Parang ayaw ko na pong mag-retire,” said Diaz at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

(I don’t feel like retiring.)

“Kasi ngayon pa lang po nami-miss ko na ang pagbubuhat, so, Tokyo po,” she added, indicating her desire to join the next Olympiad 4 years from now in Japan. It would be the Zamboanga City native’s fourth Olympic stint.

(Because I already miss lifting now, so, Tokyo.)

Diaz, who will receive a P5-million check for her accomplishment in Brazil, said that finishing first is the goal next time around.

“Siguro hindi na ako papayag na silver lang. Gusto ko gold na. Tokyo, oo po. Siyempre, pipilitin ko,” she said.

“Kaya ko pa, kung susuportahan ako. With complete strength and conditioning, rehab, todo,” added the 25-year-old, who lifted a total of 200kg to win the silver.

(I guess I won’t settle for just silver. I want to win the gold. Tokyo, yes. Of course, I’ll push myself. I can still do it, if I’ll be supported.)

PROUD. Hidilyn Diaz shows her silver medal to the media. Photo by Mary Dela Serna/Rappler

Diaz’s medal was the first by a Philippine athlete in the Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, where Onyok Velasco also finished second in the light flyweight division of the boxing event. The Philippines has yet to win a gold medal.

After the press conference, Diaz boarded a 7:45 pm flight to Davao City for a courtesy call with President Rodrigo Duterte at the presidential guesthouse in Panacan.

“Excited po ako, tapos, siyempre, honored na ipakita kay President Digong and medalya kong ito,”Diaz said about the upcoming meeting.

(I’m excited, and, of course, honored to show President Digong my medal.) – Rappler.com

Author: Naveen Ganglani of Rappler

Read More