Geisler leaving for US

Three-time Southeast (SEA) Asian taekwondo gold medalist and two-time Olympian Donnie Geisler is enrolling in an instructor’s seminar under Master Hong Sung Chon here next month to earn a certificate then will leave for the US in February or March to check out opportunities and contact his American relatives in Chicago.

Geisler’s late father Donald, a colonel in the US Army, was an American of German descent. He lived in Angeles City with wife Gracia Bayonito before relocating to Manila and passed away three years ago. The third of five children, Geisler said he also plans to visit his sisters Angel and Gigi in the US.

Geisler’s brother Baron, the youngest in the family, is a movie actor.

In the US, Geisler will explore the possibility of teaching taekwondo in black belt brotherhood gyms that Master Hong set up in over 10 states with Filipino proteges.

Geisler, a dual citizen, says another opportunity he’s considering is opening up a gym in Angeles City where he grew up. He attended Chevalier High School in Angeles City then finished up to third year in a Liberal Arts course at the University of Santo Tomas.

"Maybe there’s also something I could do for the PTA (Philippine Taekwondo Association)," he says. "I could be part of the coaching staff to train the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo."

Whatever his future plans are, Geisler’s son Robbie–turning six on Sunday–will be in the middle of the picture for sure.

"I owe my career to so many people who’ve supported me through the years," says Geisler. "My late father loved sports and got me into taekwondo aside from gymnastics and soccer. My mother has always been there for me. My son Robbie is my inspiration. Tita Ana (Marcos) and Tito Louie (LaO) are two of my biggest supporters and I thank them for their support. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I achieved without them, my coaches, my teammates and our sponsor Petron."

Geisler’s recent decision to retire ends a glorious chapter in the history of taekwondo in the Philippines.

The Filipino jins finished the three-day competitions in the 23rd SEA Games with six golds, five silvers and a bronze. It was an improvement of the Philippines’ harvest of five golds, three silvers and six bronzes in Vietnam two years ago. But it failed to match the haul of eight golds, eight silvers and five bronzes when the Philippines hosted the SEA Games in 1991.

* * *

Prof. Anwar Chowdry of Pakistan is definitely running for another four-year term as president of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), it was confirmed by his son-in-law Shakeel Durrani the other day.

Durrani, 45, is married to one of Chowdry’s three daughters. He has been involved in AIBA affairs, assisting Chowdry, the last eight years.

Is he Chowdry’s heir apparent?

"I’m not thinking of that at all," replied Durrani who owns a printing press and is involved in property development in Karachi. "What my father-in-law has achieved is quite an accomplishment. He has been AIBA president since 1986 despite coming from a Third World country that isn’t a boxing power. He symbolizes unity in the boxing world and that’s why he’s so successful."

Durrani said being AIBA president requires intelligence, a sense of diplomacy, integrity and a lot of sacrifice.

"It’s a hectic job even if all the travel is exciting," said Durrani. "I’m fortunate that being Professor Chowdry’s son-in-law, I’m able to learn from him directly. My goal is to support him in the best way possible."

Durrani was assigned as AIBA technical delegate in the SEA Games. The job carried a hefty responsibility because it involved supervising the tournament draw, making sure the facilities and equipment were in order and managing the jury panel and the crew of referees and judges, among others.

Durrani was recently designated AIBA technical delegate at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next year.

Chowdry, 82, served three terms as AIBA secretary-general before becoming president.

Durrani said during the SEA Games, one judge, a Filipino, was barred from working any of the 14 finals matches because he was suspected of biased scoring in a fight between Thailand and Myanmar.

"It’s our job in the AIBA to make sure scoring is fair and square," he said.

Durrani said it was unfortunate that fans reacted negatively to the scoring in the last fight between Reynaldo Galido and Suriya Prasathinphimai.

"The Filipino should not have retired," he continued. "There were three more rounds and he could’ve come back. The crowd reaction was unfortunate but understandable. The fans were confused because of the delay in marking points in the electronic scoreboard and they probably thought some manipulation was going on. This problem arises because of the lack of understanding among fans of the nuances of amateur boxing and how points are scored. Also, we must improve the efficiency of the open scoring system which was adopted only after the Athens Olympics."

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Manny Lopez said the Asian bloc will vote as one and support Chowdry–being an Asian–in the next AIBA elections.

Lopez said he inhibited himself from joining the jury panel in the SEA Games to preempt suspicion of the host country influencing judges and referees.

"As secretary-general of Asia, I was supposed to be in the jury panel but I declined," said Lopez. "All those rumors about us manipulating results turned out to be false because in the end, we didn’t get the breaks from the judges and referees. What I can definitely say is I don’t know how to cheat."

Lopez’ father Mel, whom he succeeded as ABAP president, was in the US on a marketing roadshow promoting real estate investment opportunities in the Philippines during the SEA Games.

Lopez spoke to his father in a long distance phone call the morning after the Philippines clinched the overall boxing championship. "He was very happy with our achievement because he knows the boys worked so hard for it," said Lopez.

The hard-earned victory was sweet vindication for the father-and-son tandem.