Last wave of RP bets to leave for China

There must be something special in the Chinese method of training that more and more Filipino athletes are going there as they continue preparing for this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez yesterday bared that 134 more athletes from five different sports will leave for China next month to undergo world-class training.

Athletes from fencing, volleyball, badminton, football and canoe-kayak will leave for Shanghai and Xiamen in two batches - the first one taking off on Sept. 8 and the second leaving the week after.

It will be the last batch of Filipinos to train in China for the SEA Games. But Ramirez is hoping that after the biennial event, the program would continue for the Asian Games and even the Olympics.

These athletes, who will be funded by the PSC and the First Gentleman (Mike Arroyo) Foundation, will stay in China for a month or two. They will train under Chinese champion coaches and athletes.

Seventy-four athletes from weightlifting, gymnastics, diving and swimming have gone to China way ahead, and have told RP officials that they’ve learned in a month of training there what would take them a year back home.

While the gymnasts returned home recently, those from swimming, diving and weightlifting are seeking a one-month extension in the hope of learning more as they train for the Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 SEA Games.

"They’re training under a very different environment of coaching and there’s no distraction," said Ramirez who has visited the Filipino athletes twice over the last three months.

"Our athletes are properly supervised. And it’s something new for them because they are training alongside Chinese and Vietnamese athletes. In fact, the Vietnamese have been training there for nine years," he added.

In their respective training camps, a typical day for the Filipinos consists of an early-morning jog, breakfast of fruits and yogurt, two-hour training until noon, a short break and back to training until 5 p.m.

"Not too heavy but very scientific. In fact, one of our athletes asked why our training back home seems so rigid and strenuous when in China it’s light but very substantial," said Ramirez.

Ramirez said it’s not only the athletes who learn but the Filipino coaches as well. They are allowed to observe the Chinese’ disciplined training regimen as if they’re doing practicum.

"Parang ayaw nga umuwi. Inspired kasi sila sa scientific training and the presence of a solid sports structure," said the PSC chief, citing the swimmers training under women’s 200 individual medley world record-holder Wu Yan Yan.

The training of the Filipino athletes in China is not for free. Each athlete spends at least $50 a day for board and lodging, meals and vitamins courtesy of the PSC while their plane fares are taken care of by the FG Foundation.