Here are the five more Christmas wishes in our list of 10. The first five wishes were in yesterday’s column.
• Philippines to improve its SEAG standing. Last year, the Philippines finished fifth in the gold medal ladder at the SEA Games in Cambodia. Vietnam topped the totem pole with 136 golds, followed by Thailand (108), Indonesia (87), Cambodia (81) and the Philippines (58). Thailand will host the next edition on Dec. 9-20. The Philippines took the overall championships in 2005 and 2019, both staged at home.
• Another Hidilyn Diaz to emerge. Early this month, unheralded Fernando Agad, 22, took the bronze in the 55kg men’s division at the World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain. Three lifters qualified for this year’s Paris Olympics with Elreen Ando ending up sixth in the 59kg class and John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno failing to finish. The race is on to find the next Hidilyn and her inspiring story is motivation for hopefuls to follow in her footsteps.
• Yulo to soar to greater heights. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, 24, is determined to make his mark in the all-around event in the 2028 LA Olympics. It’s a lofty goal with six apparatus to excel in. Yulo intends to compete in the World Cups in Cottbus and Baku, World Championships in Jakarta in October and SEA Games. The plan is to attend camps all over the world where he can polish his skills, learn from others and gain more confidence.
• Private and public sectors to consolidate resources. There is no other surefire formula for success than combining the resources of the private and public sectors to promote, develop and excel in sports. The fusion can only happen if the leaders of both sectors agree on a unified direction, grow a working relationship based on trust and mutual respect and commit to execution with shared responsibilities.
• World Boxing to be recognized by IOC. With the discredited International Boxing Association (IBA) barred from participating in the Olympics, IOC is looking for a new federation to keep the sport in the calendar. World Boxing has emerged to take over from IBA and with 60 member nations in its fold, IOC recognition appears imminent. Next year’s first World Boxing Cup will be staged in Brazil in March and competitions are in line in Germany, Kazakhstan and India where the third World Boxing Congress will be held in November. Last year, ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas was elected as Executive Board member in the inaugural Congress in Frankfurt.