Cray Richardson give Philippines sprint double in SEA Games

(MENAFN- Arab News) SINGAPORE: Hurdler-turned-sprinter Eric Shawn Cray won the 100 meters and Kayla Richardson completed a Southeast Asian Games double for the Philippines by dipping late to edge Wannakit Tassaporn for the women's title on Tuesday.
Cray who was born in the Philippines and raised in the United States has an Olympic qualifying time in the 400 hurdles but showed he's got plenty of explosive speed with a national 100 record of 10.25 seconds. Boby Yaspi edged Indonesia teammate Iswandi for silver in a photo finish after both clocked 10.45.
The 17-year-old Richardson was slow out of the blocks but ran down Wannakit in a photo finish after both crossed the line in 11.76 seconds. Singapore's Veronica Pereira took bronze in 11:88.
Elsewhere Olympic bronze medalist Pandalela Rinong won the women's 10-meter platform to complete a Malaysian sweep of the eight diving gold medals at the SEA Games.
Pandalela who was the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal in a sport other than badminton won the event for the third straight SEA Games. She scored 353 in the last event beating teammate Loh Zhiayi by 47.75 and third-place Lim Shenyan of Singapore by more than 100.
In the men's synchronized three-meter springboard Ooi Tze Liang picked up his fourth gold medal of the games when he combined with Ahmad Amsyar Azman to win with a total of 409.56.
Singapore twins Mark and Tim Lee led after two dives but finished second with 381.78.
Larasati Gading won the women's individual dressage competition for Indonesia giving her two equestrian gold medals at the games.
After 40 of the 46 finals scheduled for day four Singapore led the standings with 47 gold medals and 137 overall. Thailand moved into second spot with 37 gold medals six clear of third-place Vietnam and 16 ahead of Malaysia. Indonesia had 17 gold medals the Philippines moved into fifth place with 12 and Myanmar had 10.
Meantime the Philippines demanded SEA Games organizers carry out a gender test on an Indonesian women's volleyball player on Tuesday risking a storm of controversy.
Philippines coach Roger Gorayeb singled out Indonesia's Aprilia Santini Manganang because of her appearance and powerful physique Filipino website inquirer.net said.
The Philippines' delegation spokeswoman confirmed the request but said she didn't expect any test to be carried out before the game in Singapore on Wednesday.
'After we filed it's going to be the competition manager who will reply directly to the volleyball federation or to volleyball officials here' she told AFP.
Gender testing is highly controversial both because of the psychological effects on the athlete and because the science of the process is murky and complex.
Competition officials and coach Gorayeb were not immediately available for comment. Reports said Manganang 23 is expected to play Wednesday's Pool B opener.
'She's very powerful it's like putting a male in the female division' Gorayeb said according to Inquirer.net.
'Whether she plays or not it doesn't matter because we will be playing our best here' he added.
While it is unknown whether authorities will grant the Philippines' request previous gender cases have dragged on over long periods to the detriment of the athlete involved.
South African runner Caster Semenya the former 800m world champion underwent a series of humiliating tests before finally being cleared to compete.
And Indian sprinter Dutee Chand is currently fighting her ban by Indian authorities after a gender test showed up elevated levels of testosterone.
'It's so cruel. God has made me the way I am. I don't want to change anything and I also don't want to give up sports' Chand 19 told AFP last year.