SEAG athletes to hike gold haul on 3 fronts

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines contingent chief of mission yesterday predicted a haul of more than 15 gold medals in at least three sports, further boosting its total target of 30 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos in December.

Mario Tanchangco, the sepak takraw president and the country’s delegation head, said the Filipino bets are tipped to score victories in track and field, aquatics and billiards and snookers in the 25th edition of the biennial games slated Dec. 9-18.

“We’re going to win more than 15 gold medals in billiards, athletics and aquatics alone. That’s our fearless forecast,” said Tanchangco during yesterday’s weekly PSA Forum at the Shakey’s restaurant in UN Ave.

Tanchangco’s forecast means that the Philippines, which will field bets in all but two of 27 sports to be disputed, can attain the 30-gold prediction made by the POC recently.

In contrast, the Philippine Sports Commission said the RP bets are capable of winning only 15 to 20 golds overall. It said it based its forecast on statistics and a thorough review of the status of the RP athletes.

Tanchangco, on the other hand, said he based his forecast on the number of gold medals won by the Filipinos in these same events in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand where they captured eight golds in swimming, five in athletics, two in diving and two in billiards.

The Philippines, however, wound up sixth overall, its worst finish in the regional games after bagging the overall championship in 2005 as host.

Tanchangco also pointed to the ongoing rift between Laos and Thailand, making the battle for gold medals in various fronts wide-open.

“Before, Thailand is helping Laos in so many ways like uniform and even airfare,” said Tanchangco. “But now there seems to be a quarrel between the two so it’s going to be a free-for-all in the race for gold medals. This will give us a strong chance to finish at No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 3.”

POC spokesman Joey Romasanta, meanwhile, said there is a need for the POC and the PSC to put their act together and work as one to ensure the successful campaign of the Filipino bets.

“At this time of the year when the Laos Games is fast approaching, the PSC and the POC need to be one in everything, we really need to unite if we want to have a successful SEA Games,” said Romasanta.

Tanchangco, however, rued Laos’ decision to slash the number of participants in some events, particularly in martial arts, thus dimming RP’s bid for a bigger medal haul.

In boxing alone, a country can only field in six out in 10 events in the men’s division and four-of-six in the women’s section compared to the old practice of allowing countries to participate in all divisions.

“We will just try to second guess our toughest rival Thailand on what events they’re participating, but it’s going to be easier said than done,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson.