Valdez, Gonzales top shooting challenge

MANILA, Philippines – Prodigious shooters Jayson Valdez and Shanin Lyn Gonzales produced big rounds in the PNSA-NYDP Shooting Challenge last Sunday at the newly refurbished 10-meter range in Fort Bonifacio to qualify for the Philippine team to the Asian Youth Games in Singapore this July.

Valdez, a 13-year-old sophomore at Malate Catholic School, fired 98.8 points to bag the gold medal in the men’s air rifle event, while 15-year-old Gonzales of Woodbridge College tallied 94 points to rule the women’s air pistol competition.

Valdez whipped Ateneo’s Filbert Tan ((96.1) and De La Salle University’s Santino Hermoso, while Gonzales overwhelmed two Ateneo bets – Ruth Ricardo (88.7) and Kaira Osmeña.

Irish Palma of UP Diliman and Carl Sy of Ateneo also triumphed in the women’s air rifle and men’s air pistol events, respectively, to keep alive their hopes for a stint in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.

The 13-year-old Palma recorded 99 points to trim Miriam College’s Dianne Nicole Eufemio (96.9) and Marie Isabelle Eufemio, while Sy posted 93.3 points to topple teammate Dervin Tan (89.4) and Simon Gonzales.

Shooting president Art Macapagal lauded the young shooters for their impressive showing. “They’re the future of local shooting,” Macapagal said of the youngsters.

Macapagal also thanked Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping for funding the Marine range’s renovation.