Five youth shooters pass qualifying marks

MANILA, Philippines - Five upcoming shooters surpassed the qualifying scores for next year’s Youth Olympics in Singapore during the second Mayor Freddie Tiñga championships last weekend at the PNSA/Marines shooting range in Taguig City.

Considered among the best in a strong cast of future national champions, the five qualifiers based on their preliminary scores are Carina dela Victoria, Mark Manosca, Dianne Nicole Eufemio, Mica Padilla and Jayson Valdez.

Dela Victoria and Taguig’s Manosca bagged a gold medal each in the open women’s air rifle and open men’s air pistol events, respectively, while Padilla, Eufemio and Valdez took a silver each in the open women’s air pistol, open women’s air rifle and open men’s air rifle, respectively.

“These youngsters have shown tremendous improvement since we launched the NYDP (National Youth Development Program) last year,” said 15-time Southeast Asian Games performer and NYDP chair Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, who is also assisting PNSA president Art Macapagal in keeping shooting’s target on track.

Dela Victoria fired 379 to top the qualifying standard of 368 en route to her gold-winning 475.6 points while Eufemio tallied 376 and a final mark of 471.7 for the silver.

Manosca beat the 545 qualifying mark by two points and won the gold with 637.8, beating Simon Gonzales (627.6) and Justin Lapuz (627.1).

Padilla, 17-year-old daughter of Tac Padilla, carded 360-five better than the qualifying score – and finished with 443.7 to rank second to gold winner Ruth Ricardo (459.9), who’s above the age limit.

Valdez, only 13 and a Malate Catholic School freshman, scored 569 and easily topped the 555 qualifying mark in men’s air rifle, where he landed behind Santino Hermoso (669.4).