Didal glides to second SEA Games skateboarding gold

TAGAYTAY, Philippines – Margielyn Didal lived up to expectations as the Asian champion wrapped up her 2019 Southeast Asian Games campaign with a double gold.

Didal picked up her second gold medal in women’s street skateboarding after topping the field with a total of 12.7 points on Saturday, December 7 at Tagaytay Extreme Sports Complex.

It turned out to be another 1-2 finish for the Philippines as Didal’s teammate Christiana Means grabbed her second silver medal after finishing with 7.3 points among 6 competitors.

Didal and Means also pulled off a 1-2 finish in the women’s Game of S.K.A.T.E last Thursday. 

“We’re just having fun,” Didal and Means said in chorus.

“I actually woke up pretty sick this morning,” Means said. “We’re just hoping I didn’t die from the heat and to have a great time and to enjoy the event and everything and yeah, it worked out.”

Meanwhile, Indonesian skateboarder Kyandra Susanto nabbed the bronze medal with a total of 4.0 points.

Didal delivered the the country’s third skateboarding gold as Daniel Ledermman also ruled the men’s Game of S.K.A.T.E. event  last Thursday. 

Means will try to capture her first gold medal on Sunday, December 8 in women’s skateboarding park event at 1 pm still in Tagaytay Extreme Sports Complex.

Meanwhile,  Renzo Mark Feliciano came close to a gold medal finish, but had to settle for silver medal in men’s skateboarding street event.

Feliciano held the top spot after his third trick attempt, but didn’t land the potential winning trick on his last try and finished with 20.6 points as Indonesia’s Sanggoe Tanjung pulled away for the top prize with 21.2 points.

Thailand skateboarder Sothichai Ruksumruach secured the last spot on the podium with 19.1 points.

The 22-year-old skateboarder, though, can’t believe that he ended up with a silver as he only spent two weeks of training.

“Nagtrain ako sa Baler, sa hometown ko so like flat board and platform lang lagi,” Feliciano said. “Hindi ko inakalang makakapagsilver ako.”

(I trained in Baler, my hometown using a flat board and platform only. I didn’t expect that I’ll get the silver medal.)

Ledermann also had a chance to snatch the bronze medal, but couldn’t connect his final trick that put him at No. 5 spot with 16.4 points. – Rappler.com