Llorito, Gana save day for beleaguered shooters

Marly Llorito and Anna Maria Gana emerged as the country’s bright spots, winning medals in the modified practical pistol and women’s trap, respectively, to avert a near medal shutout for the Philippines as shooting competitions began at the Taguig and Muntinlupa shooting ranges.

Llorito bagged silver in the women’s modified practical pistol, finishing with 803 points, just seven behind Thai gold medalist Phaviga Thangsuk (810). Thangsuk’s compatriot, Pyathida Aroonsakul scored 799 to win the bronze.

Gana won bronze in the women’s individual trap with 76 points behind Thai shooters Supawan Karjaejuntasak (88) and N. Viravaidya (79). Filipina shooter Gay Josefina Corral landed fifth with 74.

SEAG veteran and shooting mainstay Carolino Gonzales failed to win a medal in the 50M free pistol, finishing fifth despite a spirited charge in the finals. Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Tuong (646.8) won gold while Myanmar’s Maung Kyu (646.3) bagged silver. Bronze went to Poh Lip Meng (645.1) of Singapore.

In the men’s modified practical pistol, Filipino shooters Joaquin Ortega and Joel San Vicente landed fifth and sixth. Thailand’s Kasem Kham Haeng (859) snared the gold, Singapore’s Chow Wei An (853) won silver and Indonesia’s Frans Paul (852) bagged bronze.

The nationals’ most heartbreaking defeat came at the women’s 10M air rifle event where Filipino bet Rachel Marie Capili bowed out right at the qualifying round, finishing dead last among 11 shooters. The young Capili finished with only 387 points. Vietnam’s Dam Thi Nga (495.3) won the gold, while Singapore’s Yong Yu Zhen Vanessa (494.2) and Zhang Jingna (493.4) secured silver and bronze, respectively.

Meanwhile, veteran Eric Ang led the way in the men’s event with 69 points after three of the five rounds. He was tied with Choo Choon Seng of Singapore, with Athens Olympian Jethro Dionisio scoring 67 and Jaime Recio 66.