ANNIE ALBANIA GOES FOR GOLD IN WOMENS' WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Nov 2008
Light bantamweight Annie Albania racked up her third straight victory to go for gold in the 2008 AIBA Women?s World Boxing Championships at the Ningbo Youngor Gymnasium in the ancient city of Ningbo, Friday.
The 26-year-old reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalist scored an impressive 8-3 victory over defending world champion Laishram Sarita of India to assure the RP-Smart PLDT squad of at least a silver medal.
Albania is the country?s remaining hope for a gold medal after teammates Josie Gabuco and Analisa Cruz crashed out after absorbing stinging defeats.
Gabuco was outlasted by European champion Steluta Duta of Romania 5-7 in the pinweight division while Cruz bowed to Kim Hyang Ok of North Korea 3-7 in the flyweight class.
Gabuco and Cruz, however, contributed a bronze medal each.
Albania, who scored a stunning 18-0 shut out of five time US National champion and Pan American Games gold medalist Sacred Downing and followed it up with a 10-0 rout of tought Tong Song Hye of North Korea appeared to struggle to get her rhythm in the first round but quickly settled down in the second to punch her way to a convincing victory.
In a post fight interview Albania said ?Nahirapan ako nung una, medyo nanigas ako. Pero nakapag-adjust naman ako sa mga susunod na round. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ang magandang laro ko bukas.?
Albania will dispute the title with Can Can Ren of China who posted a 6-3 triumph over Viktoria Rudenko of Ukraine .
?We?re one step away (from winning the gold),? chorused national coaches Glicerio Catolico Jr. and Roel Velasco.
The country?s participation in the prestigious world boxing competition is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Pacific Heights .
In the past two editions of the world championship, the Philippines has won a total of four bronze, courtesy of Mitchel Martinez and Gretchen Abaniel in 2005 in Russia and Martinez and Alice Kate Aparri in 2006 in India.
Martinez appeared to be a little unlucky to lose to hometown favorite, broad shouldered Cheng Dong of China in the quarter finals while Abaniel is now an outstanding pro boxer.
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