Alex Eala’s hopes of an Asian Games tennis gold unravelled on Thursday as the top seed was upset by China’s Wang Xiyu.
The unheralded Chinese player fought back to earn a 3-6 6-3 6-2 semifinal win in Nagoya to leave the Philippines’ fan favourite with a bronze tinged in disappointment.
The defeat also cost Eala an Olympic quota berth to Los Angeles 2028 awarded to the winner.
The 21-year-old said she had no regrets about skipping the China Open to represent the Philippines — despite a possible fine and ranking penalty for opting out of the mandatory WTA event.
“I’m really happy to have experienced this, to experience the support … and to be with the team and, yeah, to compete for the country,” she said.
Wang, ranked 85th, will face Zhang Shuai in an all-China final on Friday.
Japan were hurtling towards their all-time Games record of 218 medals at Hiroshima 1994, the last time the country hosted the quadrennial showpiece.
China surpassed 150 gold medals and hold an unassailable lead from second-placed Japan.
Third in the table, South Korea have been repeatedly vexed by the hosts’ Games organisation, with a slew of logistical, accommodation and transport problems having impacted their athletes.
But they celebrated a stunning feat by 14-year-old archer Kang Yeon-seo, who won an individual bronze medal in the women’s compound category by upsetting 29-year-old teammate Park Jung-yoon 145-143.
Now eyeing a spot on South Korea’s peerless archery team for
the Olympics, Kang insisted she was no bolt from the blue.
“Honestly, I think people see me as very young because I am
the youngest, but I have put in a lot of work, too,” she said.
Days after starring at the Presidents Cup in a losing cause
for the International team, South Korean Tom Kim is in
contention for gold midway through the men’s golf, two strokes
behind co-leaders, Wang Wei-hsuan (Taiwan) and Ding Wenyi
(China).
A four-time winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, 24-year-old Kim
shot a four-under 66 in the second round and sits level
with teammate Mun Do-yeob on seven-under (133).
The gold medal for Kim would come with the added bonus of an
exemption from military duty in South Korea, which is compulsory
for adult males.
Source: Khaleej Times