Patafa coach pinning hopes on Ubas

A Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association coach is pinning his hopes on jumper Janry Ubas, hoping that he would emerge with a medal in the 19th Asian Games in China.

Dario de Rosas said Ubas has a golden chance of winning an Asian Games medal if ever he matches or surpasses the national record of 8.08-meter mark in the men's long jump event of the prestigious continental meet set from 29 September to 5 October at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

"His best record stands at 8.08 meters. If he gets that again, he has a chance to win a medal although countries like China, Japan, India and Chinese Taipei are strong in that category as well," De Rosas said during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"He is consistently in that range compared to his competitors."

Aside from Ubas, also tipped to contend for Asian Games medals are hurdlers Eric Cray and Robyn Brown, sprinter Kristina Knott and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who holds the Asian record of 6.0 meters.

But making it to the podium will be easier said than done for Ubas since Sapwaturrahman of Indonesia already leapt 8.09 meters to clinch the bronze medal of the previous Asian Games in 2018.

With this, Ubas sought tougher competitions in Europe in which he won the Motonet Grand Prix Lappeenranta in Finland last 20 July with 7.75 meters before conquering the Triveneto Meeting Internazionale in Italy two days later with 7.72 meters.

De Rosas said Ubas will have to make sure that he completes the qualifying round smoothly so that his chances for a podium finish will increase.

"Our strategy is the first attempt should have no fouls. We have a qualifying round and they only have three jumps," De Rosas said.

"The first jump has to be on point because a foul or two would add pressure to the athlete."