ASIAN GAMES: Archer Cojuangco makes history with silver medal at Asian Games

MANILA – Filipino Amaya Amparo Cojuangco bowed to Indonesia's Nurisa Dian Ashrifah, 137-139, in the women's individual compound finals at the 20th Asian Games archery competition at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Aichi Prefecture, Japan on Thursday.

Cojuangco, a long-time member of the national team, beat Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, 146-135, in the quarterfinals, and pulled off a 142-141 semifinal victory over South Korean Park Jungyoon.

Cojuangco's silver surpassed the country's best Asian Games compound result, Paul Marton Dela Cruz’s bronze medal in 2014.

Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas duo Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara lost to Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphonapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee, 21-23, 18-21, in the women’s beach volleyball semifinals at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.

“Nandun na kami sa moment na kaya namin makuha yung panalo kaso kulangan lang kami sa tiwala sa pinakadulo na kaya talaga namin (We were at the point where we could have secured the win, but we just lacked the confidence right at the end that we could actually pull it off)," Progella said.

The Filipinos were ahead 14-12 in the second set, but the Thais held a 6-0 run to snatch the lead, 18-14, en route to victory.

Naraphonapat and Kongphopsarutawadee also eliminated Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons from contention in the quarterfinals, 17-21, 21-12, 13-15, on Wednesday.

Progella and Pagara will face China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, hoping to secure the bronze medal.

“Mindset namin for the bronze is pinaka-last push na namin since last game na for Asian Games. So why not all-out na at mas sosobrahan pa ang tiwala sa sarili na kaya naming (Our mindset for the bronze is that this is our final push, as it is the last game of the Asian Games. So why not go all-out and have even more confidence that we can do it)?" Pregolla said.