Young shooters bag medals in SEA shootfest

MANILA, Philippines - Showing their readiness for the coming SEA Games this November in Indonesia, Jayson Valdez and Inna Therese Gutierrez clinched silver and bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Shooting Championships in Vientiane, Laos.

Valdez, 15, upstaged several well-decorated shooters from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand to capture the silver medal in the men’s air rifle event Tuesday.

Gutierrez, on the other hand, bagged the bronze medal in the ladies prone rifle event.

According to Philippine National Shooting Association Sec-Gen Nil Gamboa, Valdez, son of seven-time gold medalist and Marine Master Sergeant Julius, tallied 690.5 points to miss the gold by 2.5 points.

He had a qualifying score of 591-40x and a final score of 99.5.

Thai Chasa Watweerawat won the gold while Singaporean ZXhang Jin wound up third. Former SEAG champion Emerito Concepcion finished 13th.

PNSA president and Harbour Centre CEO Mikee Romero was elated with the performance of the two shooters.

“Consider them now as two of our bright gold medal prospects in the SEA Games. They still have enough time to improve further, especially their confidence,” said Romero.

Shooting’s other bright prospect is of course long-time pistolero champion Tac Padilla.

“I’m not pressuring them to deliver the gold medal but with their determination and iron will, they will come up as big winners,” said Romero.

A second year legal management student of San Beda Alabang and a first timer in international shooting competition, Gutierrez produced 588-34x to finish third behind Thai and Vietnam shooters.