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Flag-bearer Lariba opens PH campaign in Rio

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/8/6/20160806-olympics-philippines.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Athletes from the Philippines (PHI) enter the stadium. Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines&#x27; campaign in the 2016 Summer Games opens on Saturday, with flag-bearer Ian Lariba the first Filipino athlete to see action in Rio de Janeiro.Table tennis player Lariba, ranked No. 297 in the world, is considered the underdog against Congo&#x27;s Han Xing, who is ranked 125th. The match will be held at the Riocentro Convention Center on Saturday morning (evening in Manila).Lariba, who starred for De La Salle University in the UAAP, will be banking on her familiarity with Xing&#x27;s game as they have been hitting partners in Rio de Janeiro in the past week.&quot;Somehow, we&#x27;ve gotten used to each other, but it will all change in the match,&quot; said Lariba, the first table tennis player from the Philippines to qualify for the Olympics.She was cautious not to strain her left hand while carrying the flag during the Opening Ceremony, and heeded the advice to pass it on as the delegation marched away from the spotlight.&quot;It was quite heavy,&quot; said Lariba, who trained with a South Korean coach.&quot;I gave it more effort with my right hand. We thought there would be a harness, but there was none. You have to carry the weight all the way through.&quot;It was taekwondo&#x27;s Kirstie Alora who carried the Philippine flag the rest of the way. She will not play until August 20.After Lariba opens the Philippine campaign in the morning, it will be swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna&#x27;s turn at noontime in the 400m freestyle at the Olympic Aquatic Center.Lacuna is racing in his second straight Olympics and says he is better prepared than he was during the 2012 London games.&quot;I&#x27;m more mentally prepared now, because in London, I think I got too excited,&quot; said the 22-year-old Lacuna, who swims for Ateneo in the UAAP.At 6:00 p.m., boxer Charly Suarez will climb the ring against Great Britain&#x27;s Joseph Corinda in the preliminary rounds of the lightweight division. A victory there will push him to within two wins of the semifinals, and a medal finish.According to boxing coach Boy Velasco, Suarez has never faced Cordina.&quot;The plan is for Charly to be the one to establish his distance, and not the other way around,&quot; he explained. &quot;We&#x27;ve seen Cordina fight in Doha. He&#x27;s good, but Charly is stronger than him.&quot;Weightlifters Nestor Colonia (56-kg) and Hidilyn Diaz (53 kg) compete on Sunday. (For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

The Philippines' campaign in the 2016 Summer Games opens on Saturday, with flag-bearer Ian Lariba the first Filipino athlete to see action in Rio de Janeiro.

The Philippines' campaign in the 2016 Summer Games opens on Saturday, with flag-bearer Ian Lariba the first Filipino athlete to see action in Rio de Janeiro.