Padilla tiniyak na mag-uuwi ng ginto ang ilalahok sa AYG sa China

MANILA, Philippines - Sasabak ang Pilipinas sa 13 sports events sa 2nd Asian Youth Games na nakatakda sa Agosto 16-24 sa Nanjing, China.

Ang kampanya ng bansa, ayon kay National delegation chef de mission Tac Padilla, ay sasandal sa isang pares na Filipino-American tracksters, da­lawa sa golf, isa sa shoo­ting at pati na ang National rugby team.

Noong 2009 sa Singapore ay nag-uwi ang bansa ng isang silver at isang bronze medal.

“Yes, I can definitely say that this contingent we are sending to Nanjing is capable of bringing home at least a gold medal in the coming AYG, “ wika ni Padilla, isang multi-titled National shooter, sa SCOOP Sa Kamayan session sa Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura kahapon.

Ang mga magdadala sa laban ng bansa, ayon kay Padilla, anak ni Olympian Tom Ong, ay sina sprinters Kayla at Kyla Richardson, par busters Ruperto Zaragosa at Gabby Manotoc, marksman Celdon Jude Arellano at ang 11-man rugby squad.

“I have been receiving quite positive reports on our rugby team, which its officials and those who have been following their practices and they are swearing that these boys can really pull the rugs from under their would be opponents,” ani Padilla.

“Feedbacks reaching me as far as Manotoc and Zaragosa in golf, and the Richrdson siblings  in track and field are very encou­raging, too,” dagdag pa nito.

Babandera naman sa taekwondo sina Francis Aaron Agojo at Pauline Louise Lopez.

Ang iba pang events na lalahukan ng bansa ay sa badminton (4 athletes) , basketball (3-on-3) fencing 3), judo (5), swimming (7), lawn tennis (1) , table tennis (4)  at weightlifting (3).

“I am also giving basketball a chance, lagi naman tayong magaling sa sport na ito na our national pastime. Ang problema ko lang, like swimming, eh hindi pa pinapayagan ng UAAP ang kanilang paglahok,” sabi ni Padilla.