Hero’s welcome awaits Figueroa

Athens (Via Globe Telecom) — Archer Jasmin Figueroa may not receive the kind of welcome accorded a returning sports hero but she will surely be embraced by a grateful nation for her storied performance in the Athens Games when she comes home Tuesday.

Her superb performance over a former world champion at the Panathinaiko Stadium not only provided a piece of feel-good conversation but also gave her sport a big boost back home.

Aware of the impact her win over world No. 3 Natalia Valeeva has created, Filipino sports officials are planning to give her incentive, probably cash reward through the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Although she eventually lost in the round of 32, her performance a day earlier has provided the highlight to the Philippines’ campaign halfway through the 28th Olympiad.

The 19-year-old Figueroa will leave via Thai Airways Monday and is expected to arrive in Manila 3 p.m. Tuesday.

"Jasmin deserves all the commendations she could get. Three days into the Olympics and she provided us with a good story by beating the world champion. Her win also served as an eye-opener on the potential of sport," said POC president Celso Dayrit.

PSC chair Eric Buhain said what Figueroa has done "was remarkable for it carried the entire delegation’s morale but I remained optimistic we could still win a medal in the closing days of the Olympics."

Buhain said he will definitely sponsor to the PSC board that a cash incentive be given Figueroa since the PSC has a policy of granting cash bonuses to athletes who excel and claim medals in the Olympics, Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games.

He added that the PSC, which has been mandated to oversee the government program on the development and training of national athletes, will definitely render full support to the sport of archery.

"One thing certain is we will look into the sports and with proper coordination with the POC and its national association, we will give archery its full support. Jasmin will be an inspiration to young kids to take it up and it will create a mass base for the sport," he said.

A windfall of incentives actually awaits the first Filipino Olympic gold medallist with an initial package of P5 million to be awarded by the government under the mandatory incentive act (RA 9064) and P1 million from Samsung electronics. There will be extra bonuses from the President herself , the POC the PSC.

Figueroa will be accompanied by coach Henry Manalang, swimmer Timmy Chua, PASA secretary-general Chito Rivera and swim coach Anthony Lozada.