THE 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China is on.

And the Philippines will be among the estimated 45 countries and territories in Asia that will be competing, hoping to do better than we did in 2018 in Indonesia where we got 4 golds, 2 silvers ,and 15 bronzes.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be out to prove that she is not finished yet and is looking at a repeat of her 2018 golden finish.

Aside ftom her, the other gold medal finishers for us in Indonesia were skateboarder Margielyn Didal who will be defending her title in China too and golfer Yuka Saso, who unfortunately opted for a Japanese citizenship already.

Saso also led the women’s golf team to a gold at the Asiad in 2018.

Of course the world’s number 2 polevaulter EJ Obiena is expected to deliver a podium finish in Hangzhou.

But something to warm women, aside from Hidilyn and Margielyn as our top prospects, our female athletes in different combat sports where we are expected to do well, are among the top seeds in their respective disciplines.

Starting off in boxing, the sport that delivered in the last Olympics and in the recent SEA Games, the team is out to redeem themselves after a gold-less performance in Indonesia four years ago.

Two of them are women, Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and Irish Magno, while in the men’s side, the top two medal prospects in Chiba are Carlo Paalam who won a silver in the last Olympics, and pro boxer Eumir Marcial, a bronze winner in the same Olympiad.

Martial sports will be at the forefront of our campaign and among those that should be strong candidates for podium finishes are jiu jitsu’s Meggie Ochoa, who struck for gold in this year’s Asian Championship and veteran Annie Ramirez.

Karate will be bannered by 2022 World Games champion and 2021 Asian Championship silver medalist Junna Tsukii.

Kiyomi Watanabe,, a 4x SEA Games winner and a silver medalist in yhe 2018 Asian Games, should be in the thick of the fight in judo, same with taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora, who has already 4 SEA Games gold medals and a champion in her category in this year’s Korean Open International tournament.

Our women’s football team, a first time World Cup campaigner this year will be tested here though it already won its first match against Hongkong .

In basketball, our women’s team is competing for the first time after getting invited due to its recent perfornance in the FIBA Asia Cup, but it will be uphill for them for sure.

Men’s basketball has set a record of sorts.

A few days away from the competition, the team line up is still not finalized following the decision of the organizers to disallow Tim Cone’s picks Terrence Romeo, Jason Perkins, Cavin Abueva, and Mo Tautuaa as they are not in the original list of players submitted previously by the Philippine Olympic Committee( POC), even as POC President Bambol Tolentino is making a last ditch effort to have that decision reversed.

There were even talks that the team may pull out because of this but an Asian Games without the Philippines is simply unthinkable.

So Tim has come up with possible replacements for Terrence and company as he called on Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, Kevin Alas, and Chris Ross to report for duty.

But even if Tim has his way, Gilas will be hardpressed, and the initial mission is beat Chinese-Taipei in its group.

Otherwise it will be an early goodbye as we are bracketed with New Zealand which is expected to top the group.

Talking of early goodbyes, our nen’s volleyball team should be back here by today after getting booted out, losing in three sets in its final game against Japan.

The consolation is the team beat Afghanistan, supposed our first win in men’s volleyball in the Asian Games in 49 years.

If you are wondering why we do not have a women’s team in Hangzhou, I understand we did not qualify, it is that simple. Ironic that the women’s volleyball is very popular here in the country.

All eyes will be on our athletes as we start following the 19th Asian Games, and I know that each and every athlete will be giving his and her best in the competition.

My fearful prediction, at least 3 golds, and to our athletes, please prove me wrong by winning 5 golds, okay?

Good luck.

For comments and suggestions, email to [email protected]

AUTHOR PROFILE

Lito Cinco