Catantan gets first crack at glory

MANILA, Philippines — Fencer Sam Catantan will get the first crack at glory for the 22-strong Team Philippines in the Paris Olympics before the big guns take the floor.

Catantan will cross swords with the world’s best on July 28 at the Grand Palais with hopes of surviving the 64-player KO competition and breaking the ice for the campaign intended as a strong follow-up to the most bountiful one-gold, two-silver, one-bronze harvest in Tokyo.

But the road to the podium will be rough and rocky for the Penn State star with heavy-hitters led by defending champion Lee Kiefer of the US and reigning world titlist Alice Volpi of Italy standing in the way.

Kiefer delivered the Americans’ breakthrough gold medal in individual foil in Tokyo while Volpi led a 1-2 finish for the Italians in the last world meet with Arianna Errigo as runner up. Former Philippine teammate Maxine Esteban, who now represents Ivory Coast, is also in the field, opening the possibility of a match-up with Catantan in the hostilities.

After Catantan, two-time Olympian judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will seek the same objective in the women’s -63kg class which will hold its eliminations and medal rounds on July 30.

World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo is expected to breeze through Saturday’s men’s individual all-around qualification phase and vie for the mints in the finals on July 31.

That same day, swimmer Kayla Sanchez, who previously won a silver medal for Canada in the Tokyo Games, will hunt for medals in the women’s 100-meter freestyle finals.

Lady gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo and Levi Ruivivar will look to contest honors in the women’s IAA finals on Aug. 1. Lady rower Joannie Delgaco and Fil-Am swimmer Jarod Hatch meanwhile, will contend in the women’s single sculls finals and men’s 100-meter freestyle finals, respectively, on Aug. 3.