Tac pins hopes on shooters

MANILA, Philippines - The chef-de-mission of the Philippine team to the second Asian Youth Games scheduled this August in Nanjing, China is not about to make any predictions.

“It’s very difficult to set a target,” said Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, a multi-titled shooter who was tasked by the Philippine Olympic Committee to head the delegation.

Padilla, who was barely in his teens when he started representing the country in international competitions, said the AYG is not like the Southeast Asian Games or Asian Games.

“It’s easier to scout your opponent in the SEA Games or Asian Games but not for the AYG because there are not too many youth competitions that we compete in,” he said yesterday.

The Philippines won a silver and a bronze courtesy of javelin thrower Stephanie Cimatu and bowler Colins Jose in the inaugural AYG held in Singapore in 2009.

But Padilla is hopeful that this time, the young Filipino athletes can make their presence felt.

The Philippines will field more than 50 athletes in 12 of the 16 events to be played in Nanjing, including the centerpiece event of athletics along with aquatics, golf, shooting and weightlifting. 

Padilla has high hopes on shooters Celdon Arellano, Angelo Dimaculangan, Sophie Llames Reyes, Amparo Acuna and Enrique Gazmin.

In athletics, the Philippines will pin its hopes on Fil-American twins Kyla and Kayla Richardson who will compete in the 100m, 200m and 400m races and the long jump.

Padilla said they are in the process of finalizing the lineup for the event that serves as the dress rehearsal for the 2014 Youth Olympics also in Nanjing.

A total of 45 countries will field entries in 16 sports offering a total of 118 gold medals from Aug. 16-24.

“Once we identify our athletes we will start to monitor their training. We will do everything we can to help them in their training,” said Padilla.