NEGRENSE Mitchell Martinez bowed to the taller Cheng Dong of China, 3-18, to settle for the silver medal in the light welterweight division of the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi.

This is the second straight time Martinez, the 33-year-old former national collegiate shot put champion lost to the 23-year-old Dong, who also scored a points victory against the Bacoleña 2005 Asian champion during the quarterfinal round of the 2008 World Women's Boxing Championship.

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But Martinez said she remains focused on the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December where she hopes to do better. "Medyo kinapos lang tayo, pero sisikapin natin makabawi sa SeaGames," Martinez said.

The five-man women's boxing team mentored by Negrense former 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Roel Velasco of Bago City, Negros Occidental, ended their stint in Hanoi with a gold, silver and a bronze, courtesy of Josie Gabuco in the pinweight division.
(HCV)