PINAS MAHIHIRAPAN NA MAGING NO.1 SA SEAG

POC President Ricky Vargas

JAKARTA — Nag-uwi ang Filipinas ng hindi inaasahang apat na gold medal sa 18th Asian Games na nagtapos kahapon subalit sa kabila ng humusay na performance ng mga Pinoy ay may kulang pa rin.

Ang gold medals sa weightlifting, golf at skateboarding ay naglagay sa Team Philippines sa No. 19 sa 37 sa 45-nation Games na nakakuha ng kahit isang bronze medal.

Nakasungkit din ang Filipino athletes ng dalawang silver at 15 bronze medals sa quadrennial meet.

At sa pagtatapos ng kampanya, sinabi ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas na marami pang dapat gawin.

“I realized that despite the improved performance, there are so many things that we still need to do,” wika ni Vargas, ilang oras bago ang closing ceremony ng Asian Games.

“By all indications, the Asian Games was a success for Team Philippines—total medal count improved, gold count quadrupled,” ani Vargas. “The ranking went up from 22nd to 19th, although short of the goal of 15th, but still acceptable.”

Subalit nagbabala si Vargas na hindi pa handa ang Filipinas para maging overall champion sa 30th Southeast Asian Games na iho-host ng bansa sa Nobyembre ng susunod na taon.

“To be honest? No!” wika ni Vargas.

“To aim for No. 1 is very difficult, but to aim for the top three is possible—it depends on how we manage the events and the sports,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon kay Vargas, winalis ng Indonesians ang 14 pencak silat gold medals, malinaw na indikasyon ng bentahe na nakukuha ng host country. Binanggit din niya ang malaking tsansa para sa gold medal sa arnis, isang indigenous martial art, gayundin sa basketball, taekwondo, boxing, bowling, billiards at iba pa.

“But if you factor in athletics and swimming, we’re in trouble,” pagbibigay-diin niya.

Ang athletics sa katatapos na Asian Games ay may nakatayang 45 gold medals habang ang swimming ay may 44, kung saan walang naiuwing medalya ang Filipinas, kahit bronze. Ang dalawang sports events na ito ay

‘compulsory’ hindi lamang sa Olympics at Asian Games kundi maging sa SEA Games.

“Look at Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, they’re all above us [in the medal tally of the Asian Games. And look at their silvers and bronzes, they’re golds in the SEA Games.” CLYDE MARIANO

Comments are closed.