STRONG, FIGHTING TEAM | Olympic stars brace for Hangzhou battle

The Philippines is putting its best foot forward in its quest for glory in the 19th Asian Games taking place in Hangzhou, China.

All four medalists in the Tokyo Olympics together with a rising pole vaulter, a defending champion skateboarder and ace female golfer — are suiting up during the 23 September to 8 October quadrennial sports spectacle.

Leading the charge is weightlifting Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam and female puncher Nesthy Petecio while prized swimmer Kayla Sanchez will make her long-awaited debut for Team Philippines after
winning two medals for Canada in the previous Summer Games.

Petecio and Paalam brought home silvers from Tokyo and are competing in the 57-kilogram class while Marcial, who took a leave from his promising pro career, will try his luck in the heavier 80-kg division after his 75-kg bracket was scrapped.

Providing star power and extra oomph to the Philippines' bid is world No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who is expected to crush the opposition following a string of triumphant stints across Europe.

Margielyn Didal will also be back to defend her stakeboarding title while LK Go, who was a part of the gold medal winning team that included Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, is also on the list.

In the 18th edition in Jakarta in 2018, the Philippines placed 19th overall with a decent collection of four gold, two silver and 15 bronze medals.

Boxer Rogen Ladon and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe delivered the two silver finishes while the bronze medal winners were Paalam and Marcial, Daniel Caluag of BMX, Pagdanganan, Meggie Ochoa of jiu-jitsu, Junna Tsukii of karate, pencak silat's Jefferson Loon, Dines Dumaan, Cherry May Regalado and Almohaidib Abad, men and women's team poomsae, Pauline Lopez of taekwondo, Divine Wally and Agatha Wong of wushu.

Asian Games chief of mission Richard Gomez said they are about to field a strong and fighting team that is capable to give powerhouse countries a run for their money.

"Let's wish them the best and pray that they all perform well representing our beloved country," Gomez said. A notable absentee in Hangzhou is world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, who opted to skip the Asian Games so he can compete in the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium that will happen at around the same time the Asian Games are being held.

Yulo said it would be beneficial to see action in the worlds since it is a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While there would be several more qualifiers happening next year, Yulo said it would help him train if he can secure the Paris berth the soonest.

Also expected to grab the spotlight in Hangzhou are the men's basketball team and the women's football squad.

The core of the Gilas Pilipinas team that bowed out of competition and wound up 24th among 32 teams will play in Hangzhou while the FIFA Women's World Cup Filipinas squad will try its luck as well.

Almost 400 athletes will make up the Philippine team.