By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – Reigning champion Margielyn Didal was at her usual playful mood Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Athletes Village of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games here.
Behind the smiles she flashed from time to time, Didal confessed she’s still recovering from the left ankle injury she suffered late last year.
She was forced to stop performing the dangerous tricks she normally do with passion and so much energy in front of her adoring fans when she suffered that freak accident that needed an operation.
But she remained hopeful she can get her confidence back as she intends to follow up her magical win during the Palembang Asian Games in 2018.
She ought to.
She’s only one of two returning gold medal winners in this year’s edition, so she knows how heavy the load she’s carrying right now.
Good thing for her and other national team members, they managed to train for several good days in Thailand before coming here.
“As of now, focus ko ay recovery,” said Didal, adding that she’s not yet comfortable with her trusted board.
“Kailangang maging comfy ako sa board ko,” said Didal, who will be competing on Sept. 26.
She also expressed her excitement to be one of the country’s flag bearers in the opening of what is expected to be the biggest sporting showpiece in this part of the world — perhaps bigger than the first two times the all-powerful China played host.
Aside from Didal, the other comebacking champion is “Super Woman” Hidilyn Diaz.
Diaz, however, will be moving up to a heavier division, thus reducing her chances to go for a back-to-back.
Meantime, another batch of Filipino athletes arrived on rainy Wednesday — some with soaring confidence but some were just happy to be here for the so-called “learning process.”
“This is a tough level tournanent, Asian level, so kung maka top 10 kami, then will be happy,” said a chess official.
The vaunted PH boxing team, led by Tokyo Games medal winners Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial could be the logical saviors for Team PH judging their massive training.
On the other hand, the fencing team will be without its marquee players in Southeast Asian Games standouts Samantha Catantan and Maxine Esteban.
Now competing for Penn State University in the US NCAA, Catantan is still nursing a knee injury, a condition that forced her to pull out of the team.
But the biggest blow to the sport is the case of Esteban.
Esteban is now carrying the colors of Ivory Coast, apparently for the betterment of her career.
Tasked to lead the team is SEA Games silver medalist Noelito Jose.
Other members of the team are Ivy Dinoy (women’s epee), Samuel Tranquilan (men’s foil), Jylyn Nicanor (women’s sabre), Miggy Bautista (men’s foil), and Juliana Gomez (women’s epee), the daughter of Asian Games chief of mission Richard Gomez.
