Host China to dominate rest of Asia

MANILA, Philippines - China will dominate the forthcoming Asian Games the way it has dominated the past stagings of the quadrennial event.

And the way it dominated the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well.

“Uubusin nila ang gold (They will scoop the gold),” said Jose Romasanta, chef-de-mission of the 284-strong Philippine contingent that will vie in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou from Nov. 12 to 27.

Romasanta, who’s been working on the RP participation in the coming Asian Games since January this year, said everything points to another overpowering performance by the Chinese athletes.

There will be 476 gold medals in 43 sports disciplines to be disputed in Guangzhou. Close to 12,000 participants, a record number from 45 countries will be around to compete.

“I don’t see any event where the Chinese are not strong. Even in dance sport, the Chinese will be vying for the gold,” added Romasanta two weeks before the Games begin.

“Masyado na malakas ang China sa sports (China has turned into a superpower in sports),” he added.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese were all over the awarding ceremonies, landing 51 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals.

The United States was a far second at 36-38-36 followed by Russia’s 23-21-28, Great Britain’s 19-13-15 and Germany’s 16-10-5. Not one Filipino athlete got near the medal podium.

Not one among the four Filipino athletes who won gold medals in Doha, boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon, cue artist Antonio Gabica and wushu star Rene Catalan, will be in Guangzhou.

In fact, only three of the six silver medalists will be back for the Guangzhou edition. They are Maria Marna Pabillore of karatedo, Tshomlee Go of taekwondo and Eduard Folayang of wushu.

And of the nine bronze medalists in Doha, only three will compete in Guangzhou. They are Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino of tennis, and Noel Espinosa of karate.

The Philippines, with 191 athletes in only 28 sports, is only hoping to match or surpass its haul of four gold, six silver and nine bronze medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

It’s just one percent, or just a fraction higher, of the total golds at stake.

Yet it’s not going to be easy.