Connect with us

Sports

Big winners of 2021 in PH sports

Published

on

FILE: Flags in the City of Manila are flown at half-mast as the nation’s capital mourns the passing of former Philippine President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III. (Photo: Manila Public Information Office/Facebook)

MANILA – If there is a discussion on which year should be considered the best in Philippine sports, 2021 should at least be in the conversation.

This past year gave a lot of good news to sports fans locally amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

This year-ender will tackle some of the people that won big time in 2021.

1. Hidilyn Diaz

Kicking things off is no less than the first-ever Filipino gold medalist in the Olympics.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s historic moment on July 26 in Tokyo could even overshadow President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address earlier in the day.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz

Diaz’s feat turned out to be the icing on the cake of what would be the Philippines’ best showing in an Olympiad.

2-4. Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial

That lead us to the other three medalists in the Tokyo Olympics.

Although they came up short of duplicating Diaz’s gold medal conquest, silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and bronzer winner Eumir Marcial showed that the Philippines remains a threat in Olympic-style boxing globally.

Boxer Nesthy Petecio

Considering that this year has been the closest the Philippine team has gotten to the elusive Olympic boxing gold, expect Petecio and Paalam to come back with a vengeance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While Marcial already hinted that he will now focus on his pro career from hereon, do not be surprised if he gives the Olympics another shot with the experience that he has attained.

5. Yuka Saso

Yuka Saso was on the rise this year especially when she won the US Women’s Open.

Saso in the process became the first Filipino golfer to win a major tournament.

And at age 20, the future looks bright for Saso.

Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso

However, come 2023, Saso is expected to honor her Japanese citizenship and will represent Japan in events.

But whatever happens from here on, we can still be proud of and continue to support arguably Philippine golf’s newest superstar.

6. EJ Obiena

After setting the new Asian record, EJ Obiena has solidified his status as Asia’s newest pole vaulting sensation.

While he failed to land a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, being the only Asian in the final round is something to treasure.

Not to mention the wins he had during his European tour.

However, while Obiena is a big winner this year, 2021 did not exactly end well for him.

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena

He is currently embroiled in a clash with his national sports association, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association over allegations of not immediately paying his coach.

The row prompted the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Executive Board to approve the recommendation of its Ethics Committee that declared PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico as persona non grata.

POC president Abraham Tolentino, however, said the PATAFA maintains the POC’s recognition as the national association for the sport despite the sanction on Juico.

7. Caloy Yulo

Caloy Yulo showed that he is more than just a floor exercise expert.

Despite faltering in his pet gymnastics event during the Tokyo Olympics and the World Championships, Yulo proved that he is a gymnastics champ by winning it all in the vault event of the World Championships in Kitakyushu also in Japan.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo

This came a few months after nearly snatching the bronze in the same event in the Olympics in the Japanese capital.

He capped the year with a silver in parallel bars.

Expect Yulo to assert his dominance in the Asian circuit in 2022 with the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games coming up.

8. Nonito Donaire

At age 39, Nonito Donaire is on a career resurgence in 2021.

He stunned the world on May 30 when he knocked out Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight title.

In the process, “The Filipino Flash” became the oldest boxer to win a title in the 118-pound division.

WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire

He successfully defended the belt on Dec. 12 after another knockout win, this time against Reymart Gaballo in an all-Filipino fight.

What awaits Donaire in 2022 is either a rematch with Japanese star Naoya Inoue or a grudge match against current World Boxing Organization champ John Riel Casimero.

For sure, the fans will watch it.

9. The fans

Yes, I can also say that Filipino sports fans are big winners in 2021 too.

Aside from witnessing history unfold before their eyes, they ended the year getting a chance to see live sports action again after both the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) opened their games to them.

While some Covid-19 protocols have been set, like requiring everyone to be fully vaccinated to enter the arena and not eating anything inside the bleachers, seeing the fans watching the games in flesh is a good sign that we might be going back to how it was pre-pandemic.

It came at a price, though, as both Quezon City, which hosted the PBA games, and Pasay, which hosted the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational, have experienced a steep rise in Covid-19 cases as well as other Metro Manila cities which according to OCTA Research fellow Guido David is concerning.

Metro Manila has been placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15, which means the PBA games must be held behind closed doors again and the players might need to enter a bubble, possibly with Novotel as the billeting area assuming the league insists to continue on at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Here’s to hoping that the Covid-19 surge would be mitigated very soon.

xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonxosofutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbethttps://bsport.fithttps://onbet88.ooohttps://i9bet.bizhttps://hi88.ooohttps://okvip.athttps://f8bet.athttps://fb88.cashhttps://vn88.cashhttps://shbet.atbóng đá world cupbóng đá inter milantin juventusbenzemala ligaclb leicester cityMUman citymessi lionelsalahnapolineymarpsgronaldoserie atottenhamvalenciaAS ROMALeverkusenac milanmbappenapolinewcastleaston villaliverpoolfa cupreal madridpremier leagueAjaxbao bong da247EPLbarcelonabournemouthaff cupasean footballbên lề sân cỏbáo bóng đá mớibóng đá cúp thế giớitin bóng đá ViệtUEFAbáo bóng đá việt namHuyền thoại bóng đágiải ngoại hạng anhSeagametap chi bong da the gioitin bong da lutrận đấu hôm nayviệt nam bóng đátin nong bong daBóng đá nữthể thao 7m24h bóng đábóng đá hôm naythe thao ngoai hang anhtin nhanh bóng đáphòng thay đồ bóng đábóng đá phủikèo nhà cái onbetbóng đá lu 2thông tin phòng thay đồthe thao vuaapp đánh lô đềdudoanxosoxổ số giải đặc biệthôm nay xổ sốkèo đẹp hôm nayketquaxosokq xskqxsmnsoi cầu ba miềnsoi cau thong kesxkt hôm naythế giới xổ sốxổ số 24hxo.soxoso3mienxo so ba mienxoso dac bietxosodientoanxổ số dự đoánvé số chiều xổxoso ket quaxosokienthietxoso kq hôm nayxoso ktxổ số megaxổ số mới nhất hôm nayxoso truc tiepxoso ViệtSX3MIENxs dự đoánxs mien bac hom nayxs miên namxsmientrungxsmn thu 7con số may mắn hôm nayKQXS 3 miền Bắc Trung Nam Nhanhdự đoán xổ số 3 miềndò vé sốdu doan xo so hom nayket qua xo xoket qua xo so.vntrúng thưởng xo sokq xoso trực tiếpket qua xskqxs 247số miền nams0x0 mienbacxosobamien hôm naysố đẹp hôm naysố đẹp trực tuyếnnuôi số đẹpxo so hom quaxoso ketquaxstruc tiep hom nayxổ số kiến thiết trực tiếpxổ số kq hôm nayso xo kq trực tuyenkết quả xổ số miền bắc trực tiếpxo so miền namxổ số miền nam trực tiếptrực tiếp xổ số hôm nayket wa xsKQ XOSOxoso onlinexo so truc tiep hom nayxsttso mien bac trong ngàyKQXS3Msố so mien bacdu doan xo so onlinedu doan cau loxổ số kenokqxs vnKQXOSOKQXS hôm naytrực tiếp kết quả xổ số ba miềncap lo dep nhat hom naysoi cầu chuẩn hôm nayso ket qua xo soXem kết quả xổ số nhanh nhấtSX3MIENXSMB chủ nhậtKQXSMNkết quả mở giải trực tuyếnGiờ vàng chốt số OnlineĐánh Đề Con Gìdò số miền namdò vé số hôm nayso mo so debach thủ lô đẹp nhất hôm naycầu đề hôm naykết quả xổ số kiến thiết toàn quốccau dep 88xsmb rong bach kimket qua xs 2023dự đoán xổ số hàng ngàyBạch thủ đề miền BắcSoi Cầu MB thần tàisoi cau vip 247soi cầu tốtsoi cầu miễn phísoi cau mb vipxsmb hom nayxs vietlottxsmn hôm naycầu lô đẹpthống kê lô kép xổ số miền Bắcquay thử xsmnxổ số thần tàiQuay thử XSMTxổ số chiều nayxo so mien nam hom nayweb đánh lô đề trực tuyến uy tínKQXS hôm nayxsmb ngày hôm nayXSMT chủ nhậtxổ số Power 6/55KQXS A trúng roycao thủ chốt sốbảng xổ số đặc biệtsoi cầu 247 vipsoi cầu wap 666Soi cầu miễn phí 888 VIPSoi Cau Chuan MBđộc thủ desố miền bắcthần tài cho sốKết quả xổ số thần tàiXem trực tiếp xổ sốXIN SỐ THẦN TÀI THỔ ĐỊACầu lô số đẹplô đẹp vip 24hsoi cầu miễn phí 888xổ số kiến thiết chiều nayXSMN thứ 7 hàng tuầnKết quả Xổ số Hồ Chí Minhnhà cái xổ số Việt NamXổ Số Đại PhátXổ số mới nhất Hôm Nayso xo mb hom nayxxmb88quay thu mbXo so Minh ChinhXS Minh Ngọc trực tiếp hôm nayXSMN 88XSTDxs than taixổ số UY TIN NHẤTxs vietlott 88SOI CẦU SIÊU CHUẨNSoiCauVietlô đẹp hôm nay vipket qua so xo hom naykqxsmb 30 ngàydự đoán xổ số 3 miềnSoi cầu 3 càng chuẩn xácbạch thủ lônuoi lo chuanbắt lô chuẩn theo ngàykq xo-solô 3 càngnuôi lô đề siêu vipcầu Lô Xiên XSMBđề về bao nhiêuSoi cầu x3xổ số kiến thiết ngày hôm nayquay thử xsmttruc tiep kết quả sxmntrực tiếp miền bắckết quả xổ số chấm vnbảng xs đặc biệt năm 2023soi cau xsmbxổ số hà nội hôm naysxmtxsmt hôm nayxs truc tiep mbketqua xo so onlinekqxs onlinexo số hôm nayXS3MTin xs hôm nayxsmn thu2XSMN hom nayxổ số miền bắc trực tiếp hôm naySO XOxsmbsxmn hôm nay188betlink188 xo sosoi cầu vip 88lô tô việtsoi lô việtXS247xs ba miềnchốt lô đẹp nhất hôm naychốt số xsmbCHƠI LÔ TÔsoi cau mn hom naychốt lô chuẩndu doan sxmtdự đoán xổ số onlinerồng bạch kim chốt 3 càng miễn phí hôm naythống kê lô gan miền bắcdàn đề lôCầu Kèo Đặc Biệtchốt cầu may mắnkết quả xổ số miền bắc hômSoi cầu vàng 777thẻ bài onlinedu doan mn 888soi cầu miền nam vipsoi cầu mt vipdàn de hôm nay7 cao thủ chốt sốsoi cau mien phi 7777 cao thủ chốt số nức tiếng3 càng miền bắcrồng bạch kim 777dàn de bất bạion newsddxsmn188betw88w88789bettf88sin88suvipsunwintf88five8812betsv88vn88Top 10 nhà cái uy tínsky88iwinlucky88nhacaisin88oxbetm88vn88w88789betiwinf8betrio66rio66lucky88oxbetvn88188bet789betMay-88five88one88sin88bk88xbetoxbetMU88188BETSV88RIO66ONBET88188betM88M88SV88Jun-68Jun-88one88iwinv9betw388OXBETw388w388onbetonbetonbetonbet88onbet88onbet88onbet88onbetonbetonbetonbetqh88mu88Nhà cái uy tínpog79vp777vp777vipbetvipbetuk88uk88typhu88typhu88tk88tk88sm66sm66me88me888live8live8livesm66me88win798livesm66me88win79pog79pog79vp777vp777uk88uk88tk88tk88luck8luck8kingbet86kingbet86k188k188hr99hr99123b8xbetvnvipbetsv66zbettaisunwin-vntyphu88vn138vwinvwinvi68ee881xbetrio66zbetvn138i9betvipfi88clubcf68onbet88ee88typhu88onbetonbetkhuyenmai12bet-moblie12betmoblietaimienphi247vi68clupcf68clupvipbeti9betqh88onb123onbefsoi cầunổ hũbắn cáđá gàđá gàgame bàicasinosoi cầuxóc đĩagame bàigiải mã giấc mơbầu cuaslot gamecasinonổ hủdàn đềBắn cácasinodàn đềnổ hũtài xỉuslot gamecasinobắn cáđá gàgame bàithể thaogame bàisoi cầukqsssoi cầucờ tướngbắn cágame bàixóc đĩaAG百家乐AG百家乐AG真人AG真人爱游戏华体会华体会im体育kok体育开云体育开云体育开云体育乐鱼体育乐鱼体育欧宝体育ob体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育开云体育开云体育棋牌棋牌沙巴体育买球平台新葡京娱乐开云体育mu88qh88
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maria in Vancouver

Lifestyle5 days ago

How To Do Christmas & Hanukkah This Year

Christmas 2024 is literally just around the corner! Here in Vancouver, we just finished celebrating Taylor Swift’s last leg of...

Lifestyle1 month ago

Nobody Wants This…IRL (In Real Life)

Just like everyone else who’s binged on Netflix series, “Nobody Wants This” — a romcom about a newly single rabbi...

Lifestyle1 month ago

Family Estrangement: Why It’s Okay

Family estrangement is the absence of a previously long-standing relationship between family members via emotional or physical distancing to the...

Lifestyle3 months ago

Becoming Your Best Version

By Matter Laurel-Zalko As a woman, I’m constantly evolving. I’m constantly changing towards my better version each year. Actually, I’m...

Lifestyle3 months ago

The True Power of Manifestation

I truly believe in the power of our imagination and that what we believe in our lives is an actual...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

DECORATE YOUR HOME 101

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Our home interiors are an insight into our brains and our hearts. It is our own collaboration...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Guide to Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Are you recently engaged and find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you and your...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

Staying Cool and Stylish this Summer

By Matte Laurel-Zalko I couldn’t agree more when the great late Ella Fitzgerald sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

Ageing Gratefully and Joyfully

My 56th trip around the sun is just around the corner! Whew. Wow. Admittedly, I used to be afraid of...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

My Love Affair With Pearls

On March 18, 2023, my article, The Power of Pearls was published. In that article, I wrote about the history...