Mikee cool and confident in first Asian Games stint

BUSAN — Except for the fact that she’d be missing her family for the next couple of weeks, nothing much has changed for Mikee Cojuangco as she gears up for the equestrian competition of the 14th Asian Games here.

Mikee, probably one of the loveliest faces in local cinema, has been in this South Korean industrial hub for 12 days now, but has remained spritely as ever, cool and confident, as she tries to bring pride and honor to the country in yet another international competition.

This will be the first Asian Games for Mikee, and her first major international competition since getting married to Robert Jaworski Jr. with whom the member of the Cojuangco clan now has two children.

"There’s not much of a difference because it’s the same amount of preparation and commitment," said Mikee yesterday morning before attending the final preparation of the RP delegation for the opening ceremony later in the evening.

"It’s more difficult, though because I have to leave my family behind. But that’s part of being a national athlete. That’s part of the sacrifices one has to make," she said.

The tall and slim equestrienne said her husband Dodot, son of Philippine basketball legend Robert Sr. and a former pro cager himself, will plane in on the ninth to provide the needed moral support in time for the qualifying rounds on the 11th and 12th.

"I’m just so thankful that my husband is very supportive of me," said the 28-year-old Mikee, adding that her teammates, including Sydney Olympian Toni Leviste, are all confident of bringing home the bacon.

The other members of the team are Michelle Barrera and two more members of the Cojuangco family — Danielle and Paola.

"I think we have to be consistent with our performance because we have a lot of strong competitors. But we have a quality team this year.

"If we are consistent, which of course we plan to be, then we have a good chance," added Mikee, who’ll be on board her trusted horse, Rustic Rouge, when she vies for the show jumping gold.

She considers riders from Japan, Korea and even Iran as the favorites here but said it’s actually anybody’s ballgame.

"You just really have to be consistent," Mikee said with a smile. – Abac Cordero