PH earns first gold at 31st SEA Games in Vietnam

MARY Francine Padios has earned the first gold of the 31st Southeast Asian Games, ahead of the formal opening of the biennial event on Thursday.

Padios delivered the country’s first gold on Wednesday morning in Hanoi, Vietnam after a victory in the women’s seni (artistic) tunggal (single) event of pencak silat.

Padios edged Indonesia’s Puspa Arum Sari in the final, 9,960 to 9,945.

Earlier, George Baclagan seized bronze in the men’s 90kg event in kurash, while Helen Aclopen Talongen won silver in the women’s 48kg event.

The Philippine men’s beach handball team also won silver, improving upon their bronze medal finish in 2019.

The 31st SEA Games will officially open in Hanoi on Thursday.