JAKARTA - A freak accident prematurely ended the 2018 Asian Games campaign of decathlete Aries Toledo of the Philippines as he suffered an injury while practicing for the pole vault event at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
"Aries was doing his pole vault jump but he bumped the clearance bar and it landed ahead of him on the foam pit. Unfortunately, his elbow landed perpendicularly on the bar, hyperextending it," read a statement from Philippine Sports Commission Head Doctor Randy Molo.
After seven events, Toledo was at the sixth spot behind athletes from Thailand, Japan, China, and Qatar but he remained hopeful for a podium finish.
Although he was not the strongest pole vaulter, javelin was his favorite event in the competition. He was also good at the 1,500-meter run.
Toledo finished second in the 100-meter dash, fourth in long jump, eighth in shot put, sixth in high jump, third in 400-meters dash, fourth in 110-meter hurdles, and seventh in discus throw.
The 24-year-old Filipino athlete was the gold medalist in decathlon at the 2017 SEA Games. The silver medalist in that event, Thailand's Suttisak Singkhon, now leads the race for the gold medal in Jakarta.
"He landed on the foam. He didn't hit his head or suffer from loss of consciousness," continued the message from Dr. Molo, allaying fears of further injuries. "He is in stable medical condition, awake, and coherent."
However, as the X-rays on his elbow were negative, Toledo will have an MRI performed as well. To be safe, he'll also undergo a precautionary CT scan.
He was one of the favorites to end the 24-year-long medal drought of the Philippines in athletics at the Asian Games. Now the delegation must look elsewhere for a medal.
Eric Cray looms as one of those athletes who could see a podium finish. The 29-year-old qualified for the men's 400-meter hurdles final with a time of 50.54 in the semifinals, off his personal best of 49.98. The finals is set for Monday night, coinciding with the women's long jump where veteran Marestella Torres-Sunang will see action in what could be her final Asiad appearance.