Fight with passion, courage — Cojuangco

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco yesterday left for Doha, Qatar, carrying with him a strong inspirational message for the hundreds of Filipino athletes competing in the quadrennial event.

"In the Asian Games, athletic excellence is strived for with equal amounts of passion, determination, training, dedication and courage. This is what you’ve trained for. This is your time. Grab it and do the country proud," said Cojuangco.

"An athlete who captures a gold medal, settles for a silver, or salvages a bronze is on the same footing as the athlete who comes home without one but is nonetheless richer in knowledge and experience," he added.

Other officials who joined the POC chief in the nine-hour flight to Doha were RP deputy chief of mission Buddy Andrada, International Bowling Federation (FIQ) president Steve Hontiveros and POC spokesman Joey Romasanta.

Swimmer Miguel Molina and equestrienne Toni Leviste were the only athletes who left for Doha yesterday. They were accompanied by four team officials, Akiko Thomson, the former swimmer who’s now one of the team managers.

As it is, close to 130 members of the RP delegation have left the country with a bigger number scheduled to depart in the coming days. There are 237 athletes, 94 coaches and officials and 28 members of the chef de mission in the RP team.

‘It’s never over until it’s over. Such is the kind of unyielding spirit and fighting heart which I exhort out Filipino athletes to wield on the desert arenas of Doha when they wage battle against powerhouse counterparts from China, South Korea, Japan, the Middle East and the former Soviet Republics.

"Let us all go out there and compete for the Filipino nation, for our families, and for ourselves. Rare are the moments when an athlete is given the opportunity to vie in an atmosphere and environment of this scale. And I urge everybody — athletes, coaches, trainers, sports officials, utility personnel, and all those involved in Team Philippines — to seize the moment," Cojuangco added.