CARLOS Edriel Yulo ruled the men’s artistic gymnastics still rings event on Sunday to claim his third gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
After pocketing the all-round title last Friday, Yulo scored 14.40 points to prevail over Vietnamese bets Van Khanh Phong Nguyen (13.80) and Thanh Tung (13.50).
Singaporean Terry Wei-An Tay scored 14.03 points to take the silver while Vietnamese Khang Trinh Hai settled for the bronze medal with 14.00 points.
The Philippines added two more golds to its medal haul Sunday, after top finishes by triathlete Marion Kim Mangrobang and gymnast Aleah Finnegan Cruz.
Mangrobang bagged her second gold, this time in the women’s individual duathlon event, where she clocked 2:13.12.
“I prepared very well in two events, that’s why I’m really happy with the result. I focused on my recovery and my conditioning coach, Annie Brown, did a beautiful job,” Mangrobang, who topped the triathlon event on Saturday for the third straight time, said.
Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco was pleased with the performance of the team. “We got three golds out of the possible four. I thought we’re going to win only two but we got three. I am happy with what we got. Indonesia and Vietnam prepared very well against us, but our athletes responded well to the challenges,” Carrasco said.
Cruz defeated Vietnamese Thi Quan Nhu Nguyen (13.03) and Indonesian Rifda Irfanaluthi (12.81).
Wushu contributed another gold medal, courtesy of Arnel Mandal in the men’s sanda 56kg category.
In cycling, John Derick Farr and Naomi Gardoce clinched bronze medals in the mountain bike downhill events.
Farr, who won the gold in 2019, clocked three minutes and 13.138 seconds for the bronze. Thailand’s Methasit Boonsane topped the event with 3:06.27, while Indonesian Andy Prenoga came in three seconds slower than the Thai to take the silver.
Gardoce had the third-best time of 3:44.722 in the women’s race, dominated by Indonesian Tiara Andino Priasti (3:31.531). Thailand’s Vipavee Deekaballes won the silver in 3:42.337.
The Philippines remained in fourth place in the medal standings with 15 golds, 21 silvers and 32 bronzes.
Host Vietnam was still leading with 50 golds, 35 silvers and 36 bronzes. Thailand was in third (19-16-36) and Indonesia (17-26-14) in fourth.
SOURCE: JEAN MALANUM (The Manila Times)
