Torres targets comeback in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines -- Long jumper Marestella Torres is trying to find her way back to her old gold medal-winning form.

Torres, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and former Olympian, made known her intention of returning to action after giving birth last month that forced her to beg off from national team duties.

She missed last December's biennial meet in Myanmar but her personal best 6.71 meters is still untouched.

The 32-year-old Torres though will need to work double time for her to pass the stringent criteria the Asiad Task Force had set to make it to the national team bound for the 17th Asian Games slated September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea.

"She (Torres) has a lot of catching up to do, there are long jumpers that can get back to competitive form. Given the time, I am sure she will do well," said Phl Sports Commission chair and Incheon chief of mission Richie Garcia.

For Torres to make the team, she will have to come up with a current time that should be at least inside the top eight in Asia, based on the standard set up by the Task Force for non-subjective sports.

It can be remembered that when focused, Torres, also a World Championship veteran, can come through being a fourth placer in the 2002 Asian Championships and a silver medallist in the 2005 Asian Championship.

Torres also played in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics and posted a 6.51-meter jump in the 2009 Asian Championships before coming through with that 6.71 in a performance to remember in Palembang.

Torres is eyeing to return to training camp in Baguio City where his husband, national team thrower Eliazar Sunang, is also training and will test the waters by participating in this year's Phl National Games in Manila.