Albania back on track for Asiad joust

MANILA, Philippines - Although flyweight Annie Albania failed to live up to expectations in the 2010 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Barbados, the RP team coaching staff is confident the top lady bet will bounce back in next month’s 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Albania, considered the most promising lady boxer in the team, bombed out early in the Barbados tilt, dropping a 4-7 setback to Turkey’s Sumeyra Yazici right in the first round of the 51-kg division.

“She was somewhat overconfident back then but we expect her to get back on track and be at her top form for the Asian Games,” women’s team coach Roel Velasco said in Filipino.

The 26-year-old Albania is the country’s lone entry in women’s boxing but is fancied to figure in the title hunt, having snared a silver at the 2008 World Championships and gold at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games and Southeast Asian Games.

“She’s training hard in Baguio City (after the world tournament), even sparring with our male boxers like Gerson Nietes, and we’re confident she can deliver in Guangzhou,” Velasco said.

Expected to pose the biggest stumbling block to Albania’s quest is two-time world champion and former tormentor Ren Cancan of host China. Cancan and Albania met in the finals of 2008 Worlds in China, with the Chinese escaping with a 4-3 win.

“That was a close fight and Annie could have won it had the judges scored her shots. So I think Annie can beat Cancan next time,” Velasco said.

Also seen as contenders in the flyweight category are Jang Euna of Korea and Laopeam Penwla of Thailand, who both made the quarterfinals in Barbados.

Albania is joined in the crack boxing contingent by five male pugs, brothers Victorio and Rey Saludar, Charly Suarez, Delfin Boholst and Wilfredo Lopez.

The Saludars are fresh from winning gold each and Suarez and Boholst are coming off silver medal performances in the 31st Tammer Cup over the weekend in Tampere, Finland where the RP team emerged as the top team in the tourney.