DELGACO, YULO KICK OFF PH CAMPAIGN IN PARIS OLYMPICS

ROWER Joanie Delgaco and gymnast Carlos Yulo kick off today, July 27, the Philippine campaign in the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Delgaco will race in the women's single sculls heats at 4:12 p.m. (Manila time) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The 26-year-old is on lane 4 in Heat 2 competing against Slovenian Kostanjsek, Algerian Nihed Benchadli, Dutch Karolien Florijn, Swedish Aurelia-Maxima Katharina, and Moroccan Majdouline El Allaoui.

There are 32 rowers in the 2,000-meter race, but only the first three in each of the six heats advance to the quarterfinals.

Rowers outside the top three will compete in the Repechage — an additional race given to advance to the next round.

"It is really an honor to qualify for the Olympics since not all athletes are able to compete in this higher [level of competition]," said Delgaco in a previous interview with The Manila Times. "I am not pressured; in fact, I am excited because I will compete with tougher opponents."

The 24-year-old Yulo competes in the men's artistic gymnastics individual all-around qualification at 9:30 p.m. (Manila time) at the Bercy Arena.

Yulo, a world champion in floor exercise (2019) and vault (2021), is in subdivision 2.

Fifty gymnasts are divided into three subdivisions, and the top 24, with a limit of two per country, will qualify for the all-around final.

The top eight in each apparatus, again with a limit of two-per-country, advance to the event medal rounds.

Yulo was a favorite to win the floor exercise at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but a fall during the qualifying round took him out of contention.

He came up just short of a fourth-place finish in the apparatus but eventually became a world champion three months after the Olympics that year.

"All of my competition will serve as my revenge from the past Olympics," said Yulo.

"I was frustrated at that time since I did not perform the way I wanted to perform, but now I am learning with every mistake, and with every competition that I join," he said.

International Gymnast Media (IGM), an international gymnastics e-zine, predicted that Yulo will win the gold in the floor exercise and the silver in vault.

The next Philippine athletes won't be seeing action until Monday, when the boxing team makes its debut.

First up is Aira Villegas, who is competing in her first Olympics.

Villegas will take on Moroccan Yasmine Moutaqui in the women's 50 kg round of 32 at the North Paris Arena at 3:20 a.m. (Manila time).

On the same day, Nesthy Petecio, the first Filipino female boxing Olympic medalist after bagging a silver in Tokyo, goes up against Indian Jaismine Lamboria in the women's 57 kg round of 32.

Seeing action the following day are Eumir Marcial, Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam.

Marcial, a bronze medalist in Tokyo, takes on Uzbek Turabek Khabibullaev in the men's 80 kg round of 16 at 3:04 a.m.

Marcial and Khabibullaev each earned a bye in the round of 32.

Bacyadan will also make her Olympic debut in the women's 75 kg round of 16 against Chinese Li Qian at 6:04 p.m.

Paalam, a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, will battle Irish Jude Gallagher in the men's 57 kg round of 16 at 9:30 p.m.

Petecio and Paalam were the Philippine delegation's co-flag bearers during the Games' opening ceremonies held on the Seine River.

The delegation is made up of 22 athletes. Also representing the country are fencer Samantha Catantan; golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina; gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo and Levi Ruvivar; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; swimmers Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez; runners John Cabangon and Lauren Hoffman; and weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno.

The athletes wore the "Sinag" barong Tagalog designed by Francis Libiran.

"When I was commissioned by the Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by its president, Hon. Abraham Tolentino, to work on such an important representation for our athletes, I thought, I have to make them shine and stand out on the opening day of the Olympic Games," said Libiran. "With such a momentous opportunity before us, there is no better way to represent them and our country than with our very own Filipino barong Tagalog."

Libiran said he created the Olympic barong "using a light and airy piña-jusi fabric sourced from Kalibo, Aklan. It consists of a detachable, contemporary silk organdy blue and red sling with colors that pay tribute to our Philippine flag."

"The embroidery is inspired by the Pintados warriors, depicting fierceness in battle. It covers the left shoulder and upper arm, carefully draping around the torso with a bright yellow sun ray pattern decorating the chest, just like a warrior's armor, symbolizing bravery and hope," he said.

Libiran said he strongly believes "that our athletes are heroes in their own right, and if creating the Sinag Barong is able to encourage and inspire them as they carry our flag, then that for me is already manifesting victory."

2024-07-26T16:29:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd