More nat’l athletes get FG support

Ten taekwondo jins, five tracksters, four cyclists, three boxers, and six other athletes are the third batch of beneficiaries of the P24 million grant from different private corporations backing the Medalyang Ginto, May Laban Tayo! project of First Gentleman Atty. Mike Arroyo.

The list also includes two gymnasts, one karateka, one archer and two pencak silat athletes to benefit from the FG Foundation fund.

The 28 athletes were endorsed by their respective National Sports Associations to the Philippine Sports Commission, headed by chairman Eric Buhain, to take part of the funds raised by the First Gentleman’s project aimed at giving Filipino athletes additional foreign exposures as part of their buildup for the coming Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

The country will again anchor its campaign in the Dec. 5-13 Games in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on a number of sports, particularly on 17 disciplines adopted by 18 corporations led by San Miguel Corp., which started the ball rolling by pitching in P10 million during the pledging session initiated by Atty. Arroyo in Malacañang last August.

The third batch of athletes are also set to follow the first 46 athletes sent abroad by the FG Foundation through the PSC to further hone their skills and boost their chances for victory in the Vietnam joust.

Taekwondo, which is among those being counted on as possible producer of gold medals in Vietnam, had two trips for 10 jins with Roberto Cruz (bronze), Tsomlee Go, Donald David Geisler, Alexander Briones, Jasmin Stratchan, Veronica Domingo and Sally Solis competing in the World Taekwondo Championships held in Germany last Sept. 24-28.

Other jins granted foreign exposure were Jeferthom Go, Dindo Simpao and Kalindi Tamayo, who joined the world event team to compete in the Chun Cheon Taekwondo Invitational Tournament held in Korea from Oct. 4-7.

"There are many athletes being recommended for international exposure and NSAs have submitted lists of competitions where they feel their athletes would gain more in their preparations for the SEA Games in Vietnam," Buhain said. "We are thankful to the companies which helped First Gentleman Mike Arroyo in this endeavor, their help really gave us some breathing room in expenses for the Vietnam buildup."

Aside from the jins, tracksters Maristella Torres (long jump gold), Dandy Gallenero (javelin throw gold) and Sean Guevarra (high jump silver) participated in the Pre-SEA Games in Vietnam last Oct. 9-15, while Lerma Balauitan-Gabito and Ernie Candelaria competed in the 1st Afro-Asian Games held in India last Oct. 25-Nov. 3.

Four cyclists-Baby Maritess Bitbit, Victor Espiritu, Eusebio Quinones and Arnel Quirimit - are also set to attend a 15-day training program, course familiarization and acclimatization in Vietnam starting Nov. 17 —Dec. 2.

Boxers Harry Tañamor (gold), Violito Payla (silver) and Ferdie Gamo participated in the 1st Afro-Asian Games in India last Oct. 25 —Nov. 3, while gymnasts Cintamoni de Guzman and Roel Ramirez have set their sights on a one-month training stint in the US and China, respectively.

Lone archer Jennifer Chan is presently competing in the Asian Archery Championships and Continental Olympic Qualifying event in Myanmar from Oct. 30 —Nov. 10, while karateka Cherli Tugday is on a one-month training program with newly-hired foreign coach Kobayashi Kunio (kata event) in Aklan.

Pencak silat’s Emmanuel Baesa and Christopher Yabut will also undergo a 21-day training stint in Indonesia this month.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Technical Commission to the 22nd Southeast Asian Games has formally submitted to PSC chairman Eric Buhain for funding a recommendation of 657 delegates to the Vietnam joust consisting of 449 athletes, 98 coaches, 28 managers, 8 technical personnel, 28 secretariat, 16 medical staff and 30 technical officials.