By Daniel Etchells |
Hosts the Philippines have surpassed their record gold medal haul at a Southeast Asian Games after another successful day at the event.
The home nation started the day on 111 gold medals, one short of the 112 it amassed at the 2005 edition.
It now sits on 136 golds, which when added to the 102 silvers and 106 bronzes amounts to a total of 344.
The Philippines are comfortably leading the way in the overall standings.
Thailand are second with 84 golds, 90 silvers and 102 bronzes, while Vietnam are third with 79 golds, 78 silvers and 93 bronzes.
A significant proportion of the victories for the hosts today came in boxing, with seven gold medals going the country’s way at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.
The five male victors were light flyweight Carlo Paalam, flyweight Rogen Ladon, lightweight Charly Suarez, light welterweight James Palicte and middleweight Eumir Marcial.
The Philippines’ two gold medal-winning female boxers were light flyweight Josie Gabuco and featherweight Nesthy Petecio.
Gabuco beat Indonesia’s Endang to top honours, while Petecio proved too strong for Myanmar’s Nwe Ni Oo in her final.
Ju-jitsu also proved to be a productive sport for the Philippines, with Meggie Ochoa leading the nation’s three-gold medal haul.
Ochoa, a three-time world champion and Asian Games bronze medallist, defeated Vietnam’s Le Tung Tranh Dau 13-0 in the women’s under-45 kilograms final.
There were also wins for Carlo Peña in the men’s under-56kg category and Dean Michael Roxas in the men’s under-85kg division.
Peña overcame Indonesia’s Richard Rengga 17-2 in his gold medal match, while Roxas overcame Singapore’s Benjamin Jie Jun Chia by submission to take victory.
Among the Philippines’ other podium toppers were windsurfers Yancy Kaibigan and Geylord Coveta in the men’s RS:X and men’s RS:One events, respectively.
In athletics, there was home success for Clinton Bautista in the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.97sec and Melvin Calano in the men’s javelin with a personal best throw of 72.86m.
Action at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games is due to continue tomorrow.
The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday (December 11).
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.