Payla fights for gold; Mamiit presses bid

DOHA — Violita Payla goes up for a career-defining win against old tormentor ace Somjit Jongjohor for the boxing gold in flyweight division, Cecil Mamiit tries to press his bid for a spot in tennis final which triple SEA Games gold medallist diver Sheila Mae Perez finally gets to see action in Day 12 of the Asian Games here Tuesday.

Payla has lost his previous two battles against Jongjohor but vowed to end the Thai’s domination with a fightplan similar to the one which stunned world beater Chinese Bo Yang in the semifinal round of the 51kg category Sunday.

"I’m ready for Somjit and I’ve prepared long and hard for this fight," said Payla, who scored an RSC-O win over Yang, who created a stir when he pummelled reigning Asian and world champion Lee Ok Seung Thursday.

Fighttime is set at 2 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila) at the Aspire Hall 5.

Having assured the first bronze for tennis, Mamiit is eyeing to reach out farther as he takes on Lee Hyung Taik of Korea in the semifinal round of the men’s singles at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex beginning at 10 a.m.

Lee won the gold in the 1998 Asiad in Bangkok and captured the silver in Busan.

"In the medal round, anything is possible," said Mamiit. "But it will be tough and I’ll be the underdog."

With the Chinese and Japanese divers in the fold, Perez will also be one of the least fancied bets in the women’s 1m springboard final but the Filipina bet hopes to dish out her best dive at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.