By RAMON BONILLA
CHENGDU, China — Kaila Napolis believes in miracles, and the faith she has been carrying all while representing the country in big competitions will be tested on Tuesday, Aug. 12, when she guns for her second World Games medal here at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Napolis, who hails from Muntinlupa City, is extra eager to win the gold this time in the women’s open ne-waza event after losing by a tiny margin for the silver medal in the -52-kilogram class Sunday night.
But the odds are stacked against her in an open category where all athletes from Napolis’ weight up to the 63kg division go for a scramble.
But Napolis is unfazed.
“I don’t know what will happen ahead since I will be fighting other fighters in heavier divisions, but we’ll see what I can do for the country. I’m always ready,” she added.
If her plans align, the Filipino grappler could seek payback and meet her finals tormentor, South Korea’s Eon Ju Im, for a chance at bagging her second medal and further give the Philippine delegation, supported by Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Bambol” Tolentino, a measure of pride halfway through the competition.
“I believe in miracles,” Napolis said while being wary of the challenging work at hand.
Eighteen athletes from three weight classes — 52, 57, and 63kgs — will be competing from Round of 16 up to medal rounds set in the afternoon.
“Those in the 63kgs are surely tough to beat,” said Annie Ramirez, who gets her shot at redemption after an early exit in the 57kg division.
On a rather light day in competition venues for athletes and team officials, the Filipinos used the spare time to recover from the toll of Chengdu action, some visiting recreational places inside the Athletes’ Village, others doing the laundry, while some had fun watching the musical performance from Chinese acts Sunday night.
But hostilities will resume on all fronts the day after, with Hergie Bacyadan, the Paris Olympics boxer, returning to her national team duty as a kickboxer at the Sichuan Gymnasium.
The Kalinga Province native will be fighting in the women’s 70kg division, with her foe yet to be determined since the draw was set Monday evening
Chezka Centeno, despite losing her last preliminary game in women’s 10-ball against Yu Han of China, 6-7, will advance to the quarterfinals at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China Tianfu Campus Gymnasium. She beat Easton Savannah of the US, 7-2, last Sunday.
Fighting for survival are Rubilen Amit and Jeff de Luna, who both lost their first games and will need a ton of effort against Shasha Lui of China and Oliver Szolnoki of Poland, respectively, in their crucial matches being played at press time.
After losing, 0-18, against Switzerland, the men’s floorball team is hoping to end its Chengdu mission on a high note when it faces the host nation in the classification match for 7th place at 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre.
