Third RP bet earns crack  at muay gold

MACAU – The Philippines sent a third fighter into the gold medal round of muay thai late Thursday after withdrawing its earlier protest on Zaldy Laruan’s controversial loss in the Macau second Asian Indoor Games.

Light-welterweight Ruben Zumido downed Sengchanh Sivongsa of Laos via unanimous decision to earn the right to face Metta Khetnok of Thailand, also a unanimous decision winner over Mustapha Yaghmour of Lebanon, in the finals set Saturday.

Zumido’s victory gave the Philippines three chances at the gold medal in the weeklong event.

Meanwhile, the hoop sepak takraw team also notched a bronze medal with a 500-plus performance. The Philippines tied Indonesia for the bronze.

“That’s it for us, but it was a worthy bronze,” Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (Pasta) president Mario Tanchanco said.

Roland Claro and Brent Velasco also scored highly impressive victories early Thursday with Velasco beating a bloodied Bounma Vongchampa of Laos via a third round knockout in their bantamweight semifinal fight.

Velasco will face Supachai Payunhan of Thailand who beat Cham Kai Chung of Hong Kong in the other semifinal bout.

Claro, meanwhile, defeated Albert Kujur of India via unanimous decision in the flyweight semifinals and will face Chan Kai Tik of Hong Kong, winner over Artit Mennoi of Thailand in their semis pairing.

The triple victories prompted muay head of delegation Col. Antonio Mendoza to withdraw RP’s protest on the loss of Laruan to Thai bet Kwang Khwang in the semifinal round of the featherweight division.

Jury notes showed Laruan a 10-9 winner over the Thai fighter but a five-man board of judges ruled Khwang the winner via unanimous decision.