Weightlifter, shooter stumble in London

LONDON—Their concentration betraying them, skeet shooter Paul Bryan Rosario and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz crashed out as Team Philippines’ campaign continued its downward surge on Monday in London 2012.

Rosario, a first-time Olympian, lagged way behind in men’s skeet at the Royal Artillery Barracks range, with 66 points to find himself at 32nd spot among 36 shooters. There are two rounds left in the event, but he is just too far away to contend even for the sixth and last final-round berth.

Diaz, in her second-straight Olympics, fumbled on the stage in the women’s 58-kg class after thinking one of her lifts was a foul and ended up a forgettable non-finisher in the event.

The official result showed that she was unable to finish all her attempts.

Rosario and Diaz became the third and fourth casualties of the lean 11-athlete Team Philippines after swimmer Jessie King Lacuna could only savor his Olympic experience in the men’s 200-meter freestyle on Sunday.

And as the Philippines continued to flounder in the Games of the 30th Olympiad played in cool and occasionally wet weather, the country’s Southeast Asian neighbors started to make their presence felt.

Thailand clinched a silver medal in the same event where Diaz fell, while Indonesia earned a bronze medal also in weightlifting, in men’s 62-kg class.

The country’s campaign in archery was also bound to be doomed with world No. 283 Rachelle Ann Cabral taking on No. 10 Inna Stepanova of the Russian Republic in their women’s round of 32 duel on Tuesday afternoon here and Mark Javier, No. 117 in the world, facing American sensation Brady Ellison, the world No. 1, in the men’s round of 32 on Wednesday.

The country’s hopes in swimming are also expected to end on Tuesday. Filipino-Saudi Arabian Jasmine Alkhaldi, like Lacuna in the men’s field ahead of her, would be reaping valuable experience as an Olympian when she competes in the women’s 100 freestyle heats on Wednesday.