ABAP going full blast for London quest

MANILA, Philippines - The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) looks ahead to a loaded calendar in 2011, focusing its thrust on whipping up both its boxers and coaches for next year’s London Olympics.

According to executive director Ed Picson, the ABAP has lined up an “intensive and comprehensive international exposure and training” for its elite boxers this year as they go through the initial task of securing Olympic slots.

“We want to further intensify their international exposure; there’s really no other way to make them sharper and better prepared (for the major battle ahead),” said Picson, adding that the ABAP will likely surpass the seven international tournaments that they sent the boxers to in 2010.

Foremost in their itinerary this year is the Men’s World Championships on Sept. 16-Oct. 1 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where London berths await the quarterfinalists in each weight division.

“Our immediate goal is to do well in the world championships and qualify for the Olympics,” Picson said.

The ABAP is eyeing to enter boxers in seven divisions in the said Olympic qualifiers.

Along the way, the boxers will compete in a number of competitions abroad. The ABAP, though, has yet to identify which particular tournaments as the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has yet to provide its list of sanctioned events for the year.

Moreover, the boxers will be sent to a high-level training camp for three weeks to one month either at the Australian Institute of Sports in Canberra, Australia or in Mongolia. This is similar to their three-week stay in China and a separate stint in the US during the buildup for the 2010 Asiad.

Expected to lead the Pinoy boxers’ Olympic quest are the Saludar brothers, Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey and bronze medalist Victorio. Asiad silver medalist Annie Albania and world championship bronze medalist Alice Kate Appari loom as the top candidates to vie for the 51 kg slot to the London Games during the Olympic-qualifying Women’s World Championship in May 2012.

Coaches will also be up for training, according to Picson. “We’ll be maintaining a continuing program of learning and absorption of technology for our coaches. For this, we’ll be getting different foreign coaches to conduct seminars and training sessions to help our local coaches widen their knowledge.”

Complementing the programs for the boxers and coaching staff is a grassroots development program intended to discover future talents. The ABAP currently conducts area tournaments for youngsters aged 11-18, with the top performers advancing into the national championships and possibly into the national developmental pool.

“Our aim is to intensify, if possible fast track the maturity process of our young boxers,” he said.

Boxing, by tradition, is a potent source of Olympic medal for Phl, having carved the country’s highest achievement to date, a silver medal each from Anthony Villanueva (1964) and Onyok Velasco (1996).