Cebu’s Chiongbian wins PH’s lone gold in Asian tri
CEBU’S YUAN Chiongbian gave the Philippines its only gold in the recently-concluded K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships 2013 at the Subic Bay Freeport.
Chiongbian placed first in the 13 to 14 Boys category despite a sluggish performance in the swim and getting lost in the run section of the race.
The 12-year-old triathlete was not able to give his best in the 500-meter swim since he just came from competing for the Central Visayas team in the recently held Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete. But he made up for that in the bike and run sections.
This is the first time that Chiongbian, a member of the Philippine Youth Developmental Pool, clinched a gold in an international competition. He also competed last year in Singapore.
Other members of the Philippine Youth Developmental Pool also placed in the top 5 in the 13 to 14 Girls category.
Shaia Uy placed second, Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon settled for fourth place while Issa Priagula salvaged fifth place. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON
