Injured decathlete pulls out

Medal contender after seven of 10 events

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ medal bid in Asian Games decathlon suffered a snag as prospect Aries Toledo withdrew from the competition due to elbow injury yesterday.

According to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico, SEAG champ Toledo was forced to pull out with only pole vault, javelin throw and his pet event 1,500 meter run left in the calendar after sustaining an injury on his right elbow during pole vault warm up.

He reported that Toledo’s body fell on the pole vault crossbar when he missed the practice height and the crossbar pinned his right elbow, resulting in swelling.

“His body fell on the pole vault crossbar when he missed the practice height and the crossbar pinned his right elbow resulting in swelling,” said athletics president Philip Ella Juico. “It’s a setback on our medal campaign as Toledo, a gold medalist in the 2017 KLA Games, was well on his way to a podium finish when the accident occurred.”

He said Toledo would have had his best chance “to get either silver or bronze” with an expected strong showing in the 1,500 meter event.

Juico lamented said the same pole vault practice misfortune hit fellow Fillipino EJ Obiena, who limped out of the 2017 SEA Games campaign.

“It’s the second time in two years that pole vault injuries created havoc on Patafa’s intense medal campaign. Asian championship bronze medalist EJ Obiena suffered an ACL injury while practicing on the eve of his departure for Kuala Lumpur (last year),” h e said.

Fil-Amnerican Kristina Marie Knott placed eighth in the first semifinals with a time of 11.55 seconds and failed to reach the finals.

The rest of the athletics were being played as of late last night.