Japanese bets eye 2023 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) dominance anew

Japan’s Ren Sato defends his title in the elite male division and Sarika Nakayama takes a stab at the women’s crown vacated by their compatriot on the final day of the celebration of the 30^th year of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) this Sunday.

            Top world ranked (No. 35) in the field of 66 men, Sato is backstopped by 82^nd ranked Jumpei Furuya and 87^th Genta Uichida, last year’s 5^th placer, in his bid for back-to-back championship at the longest running Olympic distance triathlon in Asia and the first and oldest sporting event at the Subic Bay Freeport.

            Last year’s 3^rd and 6^th placers Aussie Oscar Dart (WR- 112) and Hong Kongite Jason Tei Long (WR- 94), respectively, and Uzbek Alexandr Kurishov (WR- 105), runner up in the April 1 Asia Triathlon Cup Pokhara, loom as dark horses.

            On the women’s competition of what is also known as 2023 NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup, while Nakayama is ranked 77^th in the world she was beaten by 39 seconds in the March 26 2023 World Triathlon Cup Plymouth. Aussie Charlotte McShane (world rank-91^st) finished 35^th ahead of Nakayama 38^th.

            All-out to spoil the top duo’s venture is Slovakia’s Margareta Bicanova (WR- 93), 3^rd in Asia Triathlon Cup Pokhara, backed up by her country women Zuzana Michalickova (WR- 101), 40^th in World Triathlon Cup Plymouth, and Komana Gajdosova (WR- 106), 3^rd in 2023 Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck.

            Before the year past, the last time the Japanese ruled the elite men was in 2017 when they romped off with 1^st,3^rd and 5^th positions with the Koreans inserting themselves in-between; and in the elite women in 2015 when they finished 1-2.

            As a platform for our local bets, as well as the other ASEAN countries’ hopefuls, to gauge their preparation for next month’s Cambodia Southeast Asian Games’ May 6 triathlon events, SuBIT, organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), joined the trend in world and cups triathlon cups in downsizing the distances for elites to sprint.

            Suiting for the Philippines in SuBIT presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon with Philippine Sports Commission, Standard Insurance and Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Inc., are: male- Fernando Casares, Kim Remolino, Josh Ramos and Mathew Hermosa; female- Kim Mangrobang, Raven Alcoseba, Heart Quiambao and Kira Ellis (youngest at 17).

            Mangrobang has dominated the past three editions of SEA Games triathlon while Casares was 2021 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist.

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The above information was sourced from an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Some parts were modified for this website.

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