By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – With pole vault ace EJ Obiena still to compete, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann strongly believes Team Philippines is still on track of beating the previous 4-gold haul in the 19th Asian Games here.
“I am still confident that we will still beat the last editi
And he expressed his optimism a little over an hour after skateboarding sensation Margielyn Didal was dethroned by Cui Chenxi who led China’s 1-2 finish.
In the 2018 edition held in Palembang, Indonesia, Team PH produced 4 gold, 2 silver and 15 bronze medals.
Bachmann is supremely confident that Obiena will deliver the precious gold this time after a disappointing showing in the Palembang edition.
“I’m looking at EJ , I’m looking at Alex (Eala) and other athletes who can pull off a surprise,” added ther former La Salle basketball player.
Obiena is the overwhelming favorite to rule pole vault owing to his impressive showing – the highight of those was joining the elite 6.0-meter club.
Going into Thursday’s action, Team PH is already assured of a silver courtesy of wushu sanda warrior Arnel Manda of Iloilo apart from already clinching four bronze medals.
For booking a semis berth, Eala is already assured of a bronze although she will have a dangerous rival in US Open quarterfinalist and top seed Zheng Qinwen of China in the round-of-4.
Bachmann, who has been going around to give PH athletes the needed morale support, is also looking at weighlifting, a team bannered by Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz.
