Vence opens RP bid in Thai Open

Twenty-six athletes try to surpass their personal records and the Philippines’ medal haul last year as they compete in the Thailand Open track and field championships beginning today in Bangkok.

Veteran campaigner Roy Vence will open the country’s campaign this morning in the Thailand Open in the 10,000 meters, his event in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games aside from the marathon.

Athletics chief Go Teng Kok said those who will win gold medals in the event will receive a P5,000 cash award from the Philippine Sports Commission and an additional cash bonus from him.

The Thailand Open is part of the three major tournaments the PATAFA is using to pick the country’s representatives in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG and assess how the RP team is performing in its preparations for the biennial event in Malaysia.

The first tune-up event was the Taiwan Open where the RP squad won two gold medals, courtesy of Joebert Delicaño and Ernie Candelario, a silver and a bronze.

Both Delicaño and Candelario, winners of Long jump and 400 meters, respectively, are expected to lead the team, which is also bidding to duplicate if not surpass the six-gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals it won last year.

The other event lined up for the RP athletics team is the Milo Invitational Track and Field Championships set May 17-20 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Patafa is expecting over 800 local and foreign athletes to take part in the annual meet. — Joey Villar