HANOI. — With Noel Norada and Jason Baucas showing the way, the national wrestling team goes into action Tuesday at the Gia Lam District Sporting Hall, determined to stamp its class in the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games here despite lack of training due to the pandemic.
Norada, 38, and Baucas, 24, are bidding to keep the titles they won in 2019 back home when the national team came up with a 2-10-1 gold-silver-bronze production, second overall to Vietnam.
Norada will defend his crown in the 63kg class of the Greco-Roman event while Baucas will compete in the heavier 77kg division, the 72kg class where he won in the Philippines having been scrapped by the hosts.
“Nahirapan kami sa training dahil sa pandemic. Maraming bagay ang gumambala sa amin. Pero nandiyan lang sila (mga wrestler) natin. Laban pa rin,” Philippine Wrestling Federation President Alvin Aguilar said of the national team made up of nine men and women.
Other Pinoy bets competing in the Greco-Roman class of the three-day competition are Jason Balabal, Margarito Angana at Jefferson Manatad.
Seeking medals in the women’s freestyle class are Noemi Tener, Minalyn Foy-os, Grace Loberanes and Jiah Pingot while Alvin Lobreguito, Jhonny Morte, Joseph Angana and Elvis Julius will fight in the men’s side.
