Albania scores; Martinez assured of bronze

HANOI – Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Annie Albania fashioned out a 15-5 victory over Na Zhai of Kazakhstan to kick off the Philippines’ campaign in women’s boxing in the third Asian Indoor Games which got under way at the Bah Ninh Gymnasium here late Thursday.

Meanwhile, light welterweight Mitchel Martinez became the first bronze medalist in the five-woman team backed by the Philippine Sports Commission due to lack of entries in her division.

In the draw held at the Phoenix Resort Hotel in Bac Ninh Province Thursday morning, only four competitors are entered in the 60kg category, assuring Martinez of an automatic bronze medal.

Martinez plunges into action against Vietnamese Vui Nguyen Thi on Monday with the winner to advance to the gold medal bout.

The other semis bout pits Sumitra Ngoksungnoen of Thailand and Cheng Dong of China.

The 27-year-old Albania, a silver medalist in the 2008 World Women’s Boxing Championships, used her experience and power to dominate her 20-year-old rival as she took control of their four-round bantamweight clash.

Two solid right straights gave Albania a 2-0 lead then the Filipina fighter connected and scored four more points en route to a 6-2 in the first round.

Albania kept the pressure on the Kazakh in the next two rounds then coasted to the victory to arrange a quarterfinal showdown with Meng Chieh Pin of Chinese Taipei, who edged Aya Shimmoto of Japan, 10-9 .

“This is my first fight in a long while so I was a bit rusty. But I know I can do better in my next bouts,” said Albania in Filipino.

Two more Filipina boxers were to see action late Friday with flyweight Alice Kate Aparri and 17-year old featherweight Nesthy Petecio clashing with Jinmei Lin of China and Tassamalee Thong Jan of Thailand, respectively.

Pinweight Josie Gabuco debuts against Weng Chan Cho of Macau Sunday.

Aside from boxing, the Philippines is also competing in swimming, bowling and muay with the last two sports to be played in Ho Chi Minh.