Dagmil, Delicano seek great leap to Asiad feat

DOHA — Genebert Basadre goes all out to assure the Philippines of its fourth boxing bronze medal while Henry Dagmil and Joebert Delicano try to leap to victory in long jump even as the national archers set out to find their mark at the start of the archery competition in Day 9 of the Asian Games here Saturday.

Basadre barely escaped a 20-19 victory over Pakistan’s Asghar Shah in the prelims of the lightweight division but has vowed to go flat out against Turkmenistan’s Serdar Hudayberdiyev as action in boxing competitions resumes at 2 p.m. at the Aspire Hall 5.

The Filipino pug is the last of the four survivors in the seven-man RP squad after Violito Payla, Godfrey Castro and Joan Tipon all advanced to the semis to assure themselves of the bronze medals.

Dagmil and Delicano also shoot for a place in the medal podium as they vie in the final of the men’s long jump event at the Khalifa Stadium starting at 3 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila).

But focus will be on the archers as they open their bid against the top marksmen in the world at the Lusail Archery Range.

Veteran campaigner Jasmin Figueroa, Rachelle Anne Cabral, Karen Grace Yasi and Katherine Santos compete in the women’s individual classification round starting at 9 a.m. (2 p.m. in Manila) while Paul Martan dela Cruz, Mark Javier, Marvin Cordero and Christian Cubilla see action in the men’s side beginning at 1 p.m.

The RP bowlers try to keep their dwindling hopes alive as they compete in the men’s and women’s masters first block starting at 9 a.m. at the Qatar Bowling Centre. Over at the Al-Sadd multi purpose hall, Rubilen Amit opens her campaign in the 9-ball singles.

Beaten in team tennis event, Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino part ways today as they kick off their bids in the men’s singles of tennis at the Khalifa International tennis and squash complex.

Mamiit faces Indian Rajeev Rajapakse while Taino collides with Edgar Wong of Macau.

At the Qatar Sports Club indoor hall, Tshomlee Go fights in men’s 62kg division while Criselda Roxas starts her campaign in the ladies 72kg category, each hoping to come up with good starts and reach the medal rounds. — Dante Navarro