Advertisement

Boxer Charly Suarez falls short of gold in Day 14

Boxer Charly Suarez falls short of gold in Day 14

Team Philippines got denied of second gold medal on Friday when boxer Charly Suarez suffered a split decision setback against Mongolian rival Otgondalain Dorjnyambu in the men’s lightweight finals, capping the country’s disappointing campaign in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

A day after his fellow pugs—light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, and middleweight Wilfredo Lopez—fell prey in their semifinal battles to biased judging and spotty officiating that hounded not only boxing but other sports as well, Suarez displayed another courageous effort and even left Dorjnyambu’s left eye brow bloodied, only to end up on the short end of scoring from two of the three judges.

Suarez went on to settle for silver medal, the country’s third overall, two of them from wushu, aside from one gold, courtesy of BMX rider Danny Caluag, and 12 bronzes that came from taekwondo, boxing, karate, wushu, karate do, and archery.

The Philippines went on to finish 22nd overall among 45 countries, way behind its Asean rivals like Thailand (12th, 12 golds, 7 silvers, and 28 bronzes), Malaysia (14th, 5-14-14) and Singapore (15th, 5-6-12).

However, Philippine Chief of Mission Ritchie Garcia sent a formal letter addressed to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, requesting for a review of controversial match-ups that affected the results of the fights, including the medal race.

“I also spoke with Mr. Haider AHE Farman, the OCA Director for the Asian Games Department. We were encouraged to send the letter, as well as for the other countries to do the same. But we are not filing a protest, in fact we also just want the OCA and the AIBA (International Boxing Federation) to see our point,” Garcia said, who is also serving as the Philippine Sports Commission chairman.

“Mr. Haider is also seriously looking at how boxing was managed,” he added. “It’s killing the sport! And with what is happening worldwide, when there are calls to stop the sport for being ‘dangerous,’ I think we all need to look for ways to make it fair and square,” Garcia said.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines Executive Director Ed Picson earlier expressed his disgust over officiating, even calling the attention of Asiad Boxing Tournament Supervisor David Francis following the controversial 0-3 defeat by flyweight Ian Clark Bautista to Korean pug Choe Sangdon on Saturday.

“We are concerned that repetition of such decisions may send wrong signals and damage gains of the AIBA leadership under President Ching Kuo Wu has achieved in its avowed goals of transparency and fairness,” Picson said in his letter to Francis. “We just want a necessary review and assessment of the matches to avoid disputed decisions in the future,” Picson said.

“We are not accusing any official, but there has to be moves to make judging more circumspect and focused,” said Garcia.

“Kung ano ang ibinigay sa akin tatanggapin ko,” said Suarez.

Another bronze came from Kirstie Elaine Alora, who suffered a close 5-6 defeat to Seavmey Sorn of Cambodia in the semifinals of the women’s -73kg.

Also giving a bronze was Mae Soriano, who defeated Cok Istri Aqung Samistrayani of Indonesia, 11-3, for the bronze medal in the karatedo women’s -55kg at the Gyeyang Gymnasium.