Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19) — Filipino table tennis bets ended their chase for Olympic berths at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Doha, Qatar on Friday.
Rose Jean Fadol blew a chance to play in the Tokyo Olympics after bowing to world no. 87 Orawan Paranang of Thailand in five sets, 13-11, 3-11, 5-11, 2-11, 6-11. In effect, the Thai earned the Olympic qualification as she topped the Southeast Asian bracket with an immaculate 3-0 record.
Jannah Romero swept Indonesia’s Siti Aminah, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8. The De La Salle University standout landed a runner-up finish in the bracket after the win, ending with a 2-1 slate.
In the men’s competition, 2018 Youth Olympian Jann Nayre fell in six sets against Indonesia’s Rafanel Niman, 7-11, 11-6, 6-11, 10-12, 11-1, 9-11. Nayre failed to win in his two outings in the Asian qualifiers.
Former UAAP Most Valuable Player John Russel Misal was swept by 2019 Southeast Asian Games men’s singles gold medalist Pang Yew En Koen of Singapore, 5-11, 5-11, 5-11, 17-19. Misal finished with a 1-2 record in their group.
Earlier this week, the four Filipino table tennis bets failed to clinch an Olympic slot in the world qualifiers also held in Doha, Qatar.
The late Ian Lariba made history in the 2016 Rio Olympics as the first Filipino table tennis player to play in the world’s biggest sports competition.
