National shootfest under way

MANILA, Philippines - Southeast Asian Games-bound pistol champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla leads a big field of participants in the four-day 2009 National Open shooting championships kicking off today at the PSC range in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Padilla, 45, sees action in the 25m rapid fire pistol competition, first event in the tournament organized by the Philippine National Shooting Association headed by Art Macapagal.

“I’ll try my best to maintain my No. 1 position in rapid fire,” said Padilla, general manager of his family-owned Spring Cooking Oil, who recently broke his own mark of 572 and clinch an unprecedented 16th trip to the SEAG set later this year in Laos.

Padilla is also slated to vie for honors in standard pistol and center fire events.

Other events on tap today are 50m rifle prone, 50m practical shotgun, 50m WAC 1500, 48 rounds, American trap and executive shootfest.

Macapagal has noted the increase in the number of participants mostly from the youth and university levels.

“Since we launched the NYDP (National Youth Development Program) last year under the chairmanship of Tac (Padilla), we have started attracting new faces. In fact, some of them have already earned slots on the national team,” said Macapagal.