Albania beats Thai foe, bags AIG boxing gold
11/04/2009 | 07:31 PM
HANOI – The country’s lady boxers had a fruitful campaign in 3rd Asian Indoor Games as Team Philippines’ five-member delegation ended their Vietnam trip with a gold, silver and bronze haul.
Annie Albania gave the Philippines its first gold in the third edition of the biennial meet when she hammered out a 12-4 decision against Thailand’s Sopida Satumrum in the women’s bantamweight division finals Wednesday at the Bah Nihn Gymnasium.
The five-member RP women’s team, who’s trip was funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), also won silver and bronze medals courtesy of Mitchel Martinez and Josie Gabuco in the light welterweight and pinweight divisions.
“The result of the RP women’s team is laudable considering the limited preparation. It is a good test for the team before the Laos Southeast Asian Games," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) vice president and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) VP Manny Lopez, who during his term as ABAP chief in 2001 initiated the development of women’s boxing in Asia.
The South Cotabato native Albania adds the AIG boxing gold to her already impressive medal collection. She previously won the gold in the 2007 Thailand SEA Games and silver in the 2008 World Women’s Boxing Championships in Nimbo, China.
“This is for our country and I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have supported this team which includes the POC and PSC," said the 27-year old Albania.
Albania used the first round to study Satumrum, the light flyweight gold medalist in the 2007 SEAG.
“Once I learned her style I managed to find ways to connect using my right straights and hooks," said Albania, who is set to receive P30,000 in cash incentive from ABAP.
Martinez, who also advanced in the light welterweight finals, failed in her bid to win for the Philippines a second gold medal after losing to a taller and much talented Cheng Dong of China.
Martinez suffered an 18-3 loss to settle for the silver.
Women’s boxing’s gold and silver medals improved the country’s haul to 1-1-2 as the 23-person Philippine delegation is on track of matching or surpassing the production of the 2005 and 2007 teams in the Bangkog and Macau AIG editions. Competitions in swimming, and combat sports sanshou and muay are still on going as of posting time.
Bowler Biboy Rivera earned for the Philippines the other bronze medal in the men’s singles event. – GMANews.TV
Annie Albania gave the Philippines its first gold in the third edition of the biennial meet when she hammered out a 12-4 decision against Thailand’s Sopida Satumrum in the women’s bantamweight division finals Wednesday at the Bah Nihn Gymnasium.
The five-member RP women’s team, who’s trip was funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), also won silver and bronze medals courtesy of Mitchel Martinez and Josie Gabuco in the light welterweight and pinweight divisions.
“The result of the RP women’s team is laudable considering the limited preparation. It is a good test for the team before the Laos Southeast Asian Games," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) vice president and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) VP Manny Lopez, who during his term as ABAP chief in 2001 initiated the development of women’s boxing in Asia.
The South Cotabato native Albania adds the AIG boxing gold to her already impressive medal collection. She previously won the gold in the 2007 Thailand SEA Games and silver in the 2008 World Women’s Boxing Championships in Nimbo, China.
“This is for our country and I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have supported this team which includes the POC and PSC," said the 27-year old Albania.
Albania used the first round to study Satumrum, the light flyweight gold medalist in the 2007 SEAG.
“Once I learned her style I managed to find ways to connect using my right straights and hooks," said Albania, who is set to receive P30,000 in cash incentive from ABAP.
Martinez, who also advanced in the light welterweight finals, failed in her bid to win for the Philippines a second gold medal after losing to a taller and much talented Cheng Dong of China.
Martinez suffered an 18-3 loss to settle for the silver.
Women’s boxing’s gold and silver medals improved the country’s haul to 1-1-2 as the 23-person Philippine delegation is on track of matching or surpassing the production of the 2005 and 2007 teams in the Bangkog and Macau AIG editions. Competitions in swimming, and combat sports sanshou and muay are still on going as of posting time.
Bowler Biboy Rivera earned for the Philippines the other bronze medal in the men’s singles event. – GMANews.TV
