Joseph Arcilla shrugs off cramps to win soft tennis gold – rezal404
Southeast Asian Games – Soft Tennis – Olympic Tennis Complex, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 10, 2023 Philippines’ Joseph Abas Arcilla celebrates after winning gold medal in the men’s singles REUTERS/Cindy Liu
PHNOM PENH—Stricken by cramps halfway through the match, Joseph Arcilla willed himself to go beyond his limits to sixteen the soft tennis men’s singles gold medal at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
The veteran Arcilla defeated Indonesia’s Muhammad Anugerah, 4-3, for the victory that gave Team Philippines its first mint on Wednesday.
“I suffered from cramps and I could hardly stand. It was mental toughness that kept me going,” said Arcilla. “Thanks to our psychologist who always reminded us to think positive every time we go into court.”
Bambi Zoleta wasn’t as fortunate after dropping a 4-3 decision against Indonesia’s Dwi Rahayu Pitri in the women’s gold singles match.
Arcilla’s gold was the third for the national soft tennis squad after topping the women’s team event and the women’s individual doubles
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