Lagrada, the most be-medaled in ASEAN youth archery tourney
CEBU CITY — Ada Lagrada snared a couple of gold medals in the team event to emerge as the most be-medaled competitor in the 1st ASEAN Youth Archery Championships at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex here over the weekend.
The 19-year-old Puerto Princesa, Palawan lass teamed up with Charlene Santos and Samantha Alexis Pioquinto in towing Olympus Archery Club to a 5-1 victory over The Archery Academy Singapore’s Choo Celestine Boon Suan, Lau Janice Xing Yi and Yeo Tabitha Ern Lin and the women’s recurve Under-21 gold.
Ms. Lagrada then partnered with Olympic hopeful and Hangzhou Asian Games-bound Jonathan Reaport in besting University of Baguio’s Faith Anne Laruan and Renian Keith Nawew, 5-1, and copping the recurve U21 mixed team mint.
It was the incoming College of St. Benilde film student’s third gold after she topped the 70-meter qualifying phase where she had a record-breaking performance Thursday.
In all, Ms. Lagrada went home with three gold and silver, which came in the Olympic round Friday following a heartbreaking 7-3 defeat to teammate Ms. Santos in the meet bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, organized by World Archery Philippines and backed by FR Sevilla Industrial Corp. owned by WAP Chairman Felizardo Sevilla, Jr.
“It’s a bittersweet experience because this is my last ASEAN Youth competition because I’m turning 20 in May next year,” said Ms. Lagrada.
Singapore’s Jyan Seow, Boxiang Tang, and Kaeden Wee, performing under the banner of Salt & Light Archery Club, topped Cebu Archery Club’s Aldrener Igot Jr., Zyril James Fano and Kien Zhyron Torreon 6-0 (53-50, 51-49, 55-52) in ruling the men’s Under-18 recurve team event.
Udyong Archery Club’s Irish Angel Licudan, Kyla Marie Pascua and Zajara Sky Petilla routed Metro Archery Club’s Jemina Kesiya Aglipa, Penelope Juli Aldiano and Mariella Liza Valbuena 6-0 (41-35, 47-39, 43-38) in capturing the women’s Under-18 recurve team championship.
WAP Secretary-General Dondon Sombrio was delighted over the outcome of the competition that drew close to 300 young archers from Southeast Asia as well as Chinese-Taipei, India and the United Arab Emirates.
“I am happy and relieved that we were able to pull this tournament off despite some hitches, including the rain. Based from our experience in organizing the event, I am confident we will ready to hose the next international event,” said Mr. Sombrio.
“I would also like to thank the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the WAP board under president Clint Aranas and our other sponsors such as Tangent, Benel Archery and Postal Science Corp. for making 1st Asean Youth Archery Championships all possible,” he added. — Joey Villar
