TAIPEI –Filipino archers carried the fight for Team Philippines in the 29th Summer Universiade here by advancing to the Round of 24 at the National Taiwan Sport University Archery Range here Sunday.
University of Baguio standouts Chloe Balaoing and Shanaya Rose Dangla, together with Xena Hendra Chomapoy made it past the first round, when their male counterparts couldn't against the world-class field.
After drawing first-round byes, Balaoing and Dangla set up showdowns with Italy's Loredana Spera and Moldova's Alexandra Mirca, respectively.
Chomapoy treaded the more difficult route as she whipped Poland's Magdalena Smialkowska, 74-62, to set up a duel with Slovakia's Alexandra Longova.
Their male counterparts weren't as fortunate, though.
Jules Ecuan fell to Britain's Ashe Wynter Yio Morgan, 54-82; Jayson Mendoza lost to Slovenia's Gasper Straghan, 67-82; and Janus Ventura yielded to Indonesia's Dhia Rahmat, 91-104.
Even Filipino swimmers fell by the wayside one after the other at the start of competitionsat the National Taiwan Sport University Arena here.
Roger Giron (50m butterfly), Drew Bennett Magbag (100m breaststroke), Alliah Saliendra (50m butterfly), Isabella Olivares (200m backstroke) and Ryan Anthony Dimayuga (100m backstroke) all caved in against the elite field and failed to advance.
Dimayuga, who timed 1:10.68, was 2.01 seconds behind heat winner Daniil Latt from Estonia, while Olivares (2:30.11) was 3.48 behind top heat performer Erica Wing Sze Lau of Hong Kong.
Salendra, on the other hand, was 6.5 seconds behind 50m butterfly winner Jannat Firdosse Bique of Mozambique with her 38.05.
"The swimmers we are bringing here in the Universiade are PASA swimmers that went out of the association, hoping to experience this world-class event," said Philippine Swimming League president Susan Papa, who lamented that some swimmers were not allowed by their mother schools to join the Taipei Universiade.
"They are not blessed to experience this beautiful Universiade event. But at any rate, even the best of our best swimmers sa Pilipinas hindi rin talaga mananalo. There are so many Olympians, here, too," Papa said.
Other Filipino bets from archery, judo, taekwondo were still playing as off presstime.
Federation of School Sports Asdociation of the Philippines (FESSAP) president David Ong, FESSAP chairman and delegation head Alvin Tai Lian, Filipino Chinese Chsmber of Commerce and Industries (FCCCI) honorary president and flag-bearer Angel Ngu and San Miguel Corp. executive Col. Ariel Querubin were on hand to cheer the athletes, though.
