Shotgun bets bound for London Games

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s shooting representative to the London Olympics is now down to two shotgun shooters – Brian del Rosario (skeet) and Hagen Topacio (trap).

This was announced yesterday by Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) president Mikee Romero who is in London attending the General Assembly of the International Sports Shooting Federation.

According to Romero, ISSF vice president and Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) president Sheik Salman Al Sabah has assured the country of a slot in shotgun since the rifle and pistol events in the coming quadrennial event have been filled up.

Al Sabah, a member of the Royal family of Kuwait, had pushed for a wildcard berth for the Phl in the Olympics.

“We have to lobby day-in and day-out for us not to lose that slot, we have chased the ISSF and IOC (International Olympic Committee) all over the world for the Philippines to be given the wildcard,” said Romero, who thanked former PNSA president Arturo Macapagal for his support.

Manny Lopez, the country’s chief of mission, has also rallied the support of several allies so that the country will have a slot in shooting.

“I also would like to thank the members of the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) for their support in giving shooting a slot in the London Games,” added Romero, also the president and CEO of Harbour Centre.

Del Rosario and Topacio were nominated by PNSA to the ISSF along with Tac Padilla, the undisputed pistol king, and Jason Valdez, the rising star in rifle.

Mexico’s Olegario Vasquez Rana, the long-time ISSF president, said a total of 360 shooters will vie for top honors in 15 events.

Topacio and del Rosario are currently under the Olympic scholarship programs of the IOC.

Rosario has a strong chance of earning a slot since he has already surpassed the score of the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold winner.