FITA OKs archery range

International Archery Federation (FITA) vice president and technical delegate to the 2005 Southeast Asian Games Sanguan Kosavinta of Thailand has given his approval to the two archery venues at Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City.

Kosavinta flew to Manila recently and inspected the venues and archery equipment needed to stage the event as required by FITA.

According to NAAP (National Archery Association of the Philippines) officials, Kosavinta "was satisfied with the venues." However, he was quite disappointed that the basic equipment (for the tournament) like timing device, target butts and faces are not yet available.

Host Philippines has added the compound bow competition to the usual recurve event in the biennial regional sportsfest.

Aside from being FITA vice president, Kosavinta is also president of the National Archery Association of Thailand and the Southeast Asia Archery Federation, deputy treasurer of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, first vice president of the Asian Archery Federation, FITA emeritus judge and FITA archery expert.

After inspecting the two archery venues, Kosavinta also visited the venues for canoe kayak, sailing and triathlon on behalf of the Thai Olympic body.

Meanwhile, weightlifting association secretary-general Danilo Catingub is not about to make a bold prediction as to how many possible gold medals the Filipino lifters would win in the biennial meet but he did guarantee the 13 RP bets seeing action in 10 events are capable of pulling a surprise.

"What can you expect in 13 athletes?" said Catingub. "But I’m confident, despite having only few weightlifters in our lineup, we can make a surprise in the biennial meet. Our athletes are training hard in their bid to defy the odds."

During the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, the RP weightlifters took home a bronze medal courtesy of veteran Alvin Delos Santos in the 94+ men’s category.

"We must have more than 20 athletes because the other countries have 25 or more. So it’s hard for us to make an advantage, but I’m not losing faith in our weightlifters. I know we’re not going to end this event empty-handed," Catingub said.

The men’s team is composed of the 34-year-old Delos Santos, Daniel Siting, Christopher Bureros, Alfonsito Aldanete, Renante Briones and 19-year-old Jomar Napoloreyes.

The women’s team meanwhile is led by youthful Elma Bacaro, Emily Rosas, Cecilia Atilano, Ester Cabasura and Evan Gicain, while in the training pool are 14-year-old Hidilyn Diaz, Hansly Casile and Joseph Libres.