PH pickleball players nagbulsa ng 7 medalya sa Asia Grand Slam sa China

PATULOY na gumagawa ng ingay ang pickleball athletes sa international stage, nasungkit ang multiple medals sa nakaraang World Pickleball Championships (WPC) Asia Grand Slam sa China.

Ang team Philippines ay naguwi ng 1 gold, one silver at five bronze medals mula sa paligsahan, na humakot ng mahigit 800 players mula sa 20 bansa.

Dinomina nina Dino Jimenez at Davis Alano ang 35+men’s doubles Open category sa unang yugto na ginanap sa Hebei City.

Jimenez, na dating top junior tennis player, ay nabitag rin ang bronze medal sa 35+ men’s singles Open, habang ang pares ay nakamit bronze medal sa second leg sa Baoding City.

“It’s always an honor to win for the country. I’m happy that I was able to perform well,” Wika ni Jimenez sa panayam Sabado.

Nagsimula siyang maglaro ng pickleball nakaraang taon at agad-agad nakakuha ng silver sa Pattaya Open sa Thailand Marso.

Para kay Alano, hindi inaasahan na magwagi ng medalya dahil nagtamo siya ng torn calf dalawang Linggo bago lumipad patungong China.

“I was really excited to play in China. It was my first time to compete in the 35+ category. But I did not expect anything because of the injury. We really helped each other to win our first gold medal,” Wika ni Alano.

Nakakuha rin siya ng bronze medal sa 19+ men’s doubles kasama si Kim Ivor Saraza.

Anna Clarice Patrimonio, na tennis player rin, nagbulsa ng silver medal sa 19+ women’s singles Open; Habang si Medene Ramos-Saraza at Patricia Raymundo nasungkit ang bronze sa 19+ women’s doubles category.

Ang Philippine team ay binubuu nina Jimenez, Alano, Saraza, Ramos-Saraza, Patrimonio, Ken Unique Dela Cruz, at Christian Joshua Luna, Gayunpaman nakuha ang bronze medal sa team event.

Pickleball ay indoor or outdoor game na katulad ng tennis,pero nilalaro rin sa level court na may short-handled paddles at perforated plastic ball.