Asian Games: Minus Kayla Sanchez, PH women’s relay team reaches medal round

HANGZHOU, China – Even without Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez, the Philippine relay swimming team still managed to compete in the medal race of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi and Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino and Chloe Isleta finished third in the second heat of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, securing a spot in the evening final.

The quartet anchored by Isleta posted a total time of three minutes and 48.06 seconds in the qualifying heat, behind the Chinese 3:37.53 and the Japanese 3:40.89.

They will be booked in lane five during the final, where Singapore (3:46.67) is also a medal contender. Hong Kong (3:47.99) also made it, along with India (3:53.80), Thailand (3:54.37) and Macau (4:05.62).

Jerald Jacinto and Filipino-American Jarold Hatch missed advancing to the finals of their respective events.

Jerald Jacinto finished 6th in his qualifying heat in the men’s 100m backstroke at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou pic.twitter.com/st7NWrvHwU

— Juni Navarro (@junavINQ) September 24, 2023

Hatch placed fifth in his qualifying heats in the men’s 100m freestyle with a time of 50.90 seconds, while Jacinto finished sixth in the men’s 100m backstroke, clocking 57.57 seconds in the heats.

Sanchez, who contributed to Canada’s silver and bronze medals in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics relays, skipped the country’s qualifying round in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle and could be tapped into the medal race.

Making his debut for the Philippines after switching federations, Sanchez has a personal best of 53.12 seconds in the 100m free, an effort faster than previous Asian Games gold medalist Rikako Ikee of Japan (53.27) .

She has also competed in the women’s 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke, events where the 22-year-old from Toronto, Canada is favored for the medal.