Walang dapat ikahiya—Ramirez

Proud sa pinoy athletes

MANILA, Philippines — Imbes na mahiya ay dapat taas-noo pa ang mga miyembro ng Team Philippines sa pagiging fourth-placer sa katatapos na 31st Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi, Vietnam.

Sinabi kahapon ni Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez na dapat ikunsidera sa fourth-place finish ng bansa ang kakulangan sa training at international exposures ng mga atleta dahil sa coronavirus di-sease (COVID-19) pandemic simula noong 2020.

“Our performance in bringing home 52 golds, 70 silvers, and 104 bronzes medals in placing fourth overall in the medal standings was a good finish despite the various challenges our national athletes had to face amid the COVID-19 pandemic before competing in Vietnam,” ani Ramirez.

Nang maging overall champion noong 2019 Manila SEA Games ay kumolekta ang mga Pinoy athletes ng 52 golds, 70 silvers at 104 bronzes.

Inamin ni Ramirez na malaking pondo ang kailangan para sa training programs ng mga elite athletes na ilalahok sa mga international competition.

Ilan sa mga atletang nagsasanay sa abroad at sumasabak sa mga international tournaments ay sina Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, two-time world gymnastics champion Caloy Yulo at World No. 6 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.

“You need money for coaches, both local and fo­reign, airfare, transportation and hotel for international exposure to season them, plus the logistical support like proper nutrition, sports psychology,and medicine for athletes discovered abroad or locally,” paliwanag ng PSC chief.

Inangkin nina Diaz at Obiena ang kanilang ikalawang sunod na gold medal sa Vietnam SEA Games habang kumolekta ng limang ginto si Yulo.

Pinasalamatan ni Ramirez ang suporta ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), mga National Sports Associations (NSAs) at ng private sectors kagaya ng MVP Sports Foundation ni businessman/sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan para sa mga atleta.