Knott starts Asian bid

Two-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Kristina Knott banners the Philippines on the first day of the Asian Athletics Championships at the Gumi Civic Stadium in South Korea on Tuesday.

Knott, 29, will be competing in the women’s 100-meter heats at 3:30 p.m. (Manila time).

Also competing on the first day of the Asian Championships are Leonard Grospe of high jump, distance runner Yacine Guermali, Hokket delos Santos of decathlon, and Ronnie Malipay of men’s triple jump.

Knott last competed in the Philippine Athletics Championships in Tarlac a few weeks ago where she won the gold in the women’s 200m event with a time of 24.12 seconds despite slipping near the finish line.

The Filipino-American sprinter said competing in Tarlac is key to her buildup for the Asian championships.

“You know, it’s just dusting off some rust. But it’s a long season and we’re going all the way till December,” Knott said as she will also compete in the women's 200m event on Friday.

The Philippines is gunning to surpass its two-gold-medal haul from 2023 in Bangkok.

While Robyn Brown and Ernest John Obiena will defend their titles in the women’s 400m hurdles and men’s pole vault, respectively, hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang, William Morrison of shot put and middle distance runner Bernalyn Bejoy are expected to vie for medals in one of the biggest athletics tournament in Asia.