MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Jumpei Furuya, the 2018 Asian Games men’s gold medalist, banners a large field of foreign hopefuls vying for qualifying points in the 2019 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Asian Cup set April 27-28.
Furuya, currently ranked No. 43 in the world and winner of NTT ASTC Asian Cup event in Rayong, Thailand last January. will be joined by 13 other Japanese triathletes.
Poised to crowd the Japanese are six bets from China and Hong Kong’s large contingent of 33 entries spread over the Elite, Junior and Super Sprint Distance categories.
Chinese Taipei had entered 18, Korea 16, Macao 10, Singapore nine, Syria six and Thailand four.
Not to be discounted in the 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run Elite competition are both the pair of Australians and Palestinians and a sole Canadian.
According to Tom Carrasco, president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), John Chicano will spearhead the Philippine challenge along with Kim Remolino while Filipino-Spanish Fer Caseres is out to spring a surprise in his quest for a slot in Team Philippines for the 30th SEA Games from Nov. to Dec. 11.