Mikee to carry Philippine flag in Asiad opening rites

MANILA, Philippines - Equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, gold medal winner in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, will make a return appearance in the quadrennial regional meet as flag bearer of the 188-strong Philippine contingent during the opening ceremonies of the Guangzhou, China Games on Nov. 12.

Cojuangco-Jaworski was named the Phl team flag bearer during the sendoff rites hosted by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission Friday at the Philsports Arena.

“I was told that I would just be sharing some inspirational messages from my Busan experience. I was really surprised they gave me the honor of carrying the country’s flag in Guangzhou,” Cojuangco-Jaworski said.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, whose last-minute golden feat in Busan gave the Filipinos a third and final gold in the meet, accepted the duty and privilege upon the approval of his father, POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and the recommendation of PSC chair Richie Garcia.

“As her (Mikee) father, it would not look good if I name her the flag bearer. But since it was a request, it’s up to her,” said Cojuangco.

“It is only fitting that someone in the stature of Mikee, who brought honor to the country as a former Asian Games gold medal winner, be our flag bearer in Guangzhou,” Garcia, for his part, said.

Cojuangco-Jaworski will be the second “non-participant” to carry the country’s flag in an international sports conclave after pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao did the same chore in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chessers Eugene Torre and Wesley So, shooter Tac Padilla and cue artists Rubilen Amit, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Efren “Bata” Reyes were among those also considered to be the flag bearer.

Torre is Asia’s first grandmaster, So is the country’s highest rated player, Padilla is an eight-time Asian Gamer, Amit and Reyes are former world champions while Bustamante is the reigning 9-ball king.

United States-based tanker Miguel Molina, the original flag bearer choice for the Beijing Games who later gave way to Pacquiao, was also considered.