Shooters fund own training

BANGKOK – Young RP lady shooter Nikki Medina has decided to stay on in the sport, convinced to just shift to another event.

She has chosen shotgun over air rifle, enamored by the silver medal-winning performance of Eric Carag, Jethro Dionisio and Carlos Carag in trap event.

The 18-year-old nursing student at the Global City Innovative College has given up on rifle shooting after only two failed SEAG bids although RP officials thought she has a good potential to win it someday.

“It’s a good decision since trap is an Olympic event,” said coach Bartolome Teyab.

Medina has been reduced to a mere spectator after the completion of her event right on the first day of shooting competition Tuesday.

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Filipino shooters are among those spending their own money to excel in their chosen sport.

Consider the case of the shotgun shooters who are provided free ammunitions by the Philippine Sports Commission only three months before the competition.

There’s also the case of pistol shooters given only 350 bullets a week while preparing for three separate events.

“These shooters really make a great deal of sacrifice for their love of the sport. A shotgun shooter spends about P50,000 a month for his training,” said official James Chua.

Businessmen-sportsmen Tac Padilla and Eric Ang spent even more as they built their own shooting range.

Ang needs to own his own range as he has an LPG business to attend to in Laoag. Padilla’s business prevents him from getting the needed international exposure.

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 Thailand tennis is looking beyond the 24th Southeast Asian Games as it decided to hire the services of former US coach Chuck Kriese.

Considered one of the best coaches in the world, Kriese has authored five tennis instructional books and has guided numerous players to reach the world top ranking.

His initial job is to make the Thais highly competitive for the 24th SEA Games after they were badly beaten in Manila in 2005.

“Tennis in Thailand is at a boiling point. There are many good signs here. Most importantly, I see a great mentoring program,” said Kriese as quoted by the Bangkok Post. - Nelson Beltran