Guangzhou experience benefits young shooters

GUANZHOU – The Philippine Olympic Committee’s decision to send young, inexperienced shooters to the Asian Games had caused some controversies here, but Tac Padilla is not worried.

“We are pinning our hopes on these young shooters - they have very good chances of becoming champions someday,” said Padilla of his four wards, all minors, who were routed left and right by the world class shooters in Guangzhou.

“We made the right decisions in bringing these youngsters here,” he said.

The young shooters seeing action here are Jason Valdez (15), Alyanna Krystel Chuatoco (16) Mark Lorenz Manosca (18) and Charisse Palma (19).

They are all members of the PNSA’s National Youth Development Program (NYDPP).

Padilla’s daughter Michaela was also recommended but both father and daughter agreed she would not come to avoid any controversy about her participation.

Valdez scored 556 to finish 53rd among 54 shooters, 40 points behind the near perfect mark of 596 of 25-year-old world no. 6 Kim Jonghyun of Korea.

In the women’s 50m rifle prone position, Palma also finished second to the last at 49th place with her score of 564.

Padilla is also big brother and dad at the same time to the kids.

“Jason [Valdez] felt bad about his performance the other day, but I told him ‘it is one way of gaining experience,’” he said.

Valdez was 24th among 47 participants in the men’s 10-meter of air rifle. The gold medalist from China is 26, the silver medalist from India 27 and the bronze medalist from Korea 23.

In the 50-meter air rifle, he was 53rd among 55 shooters, but the Koreans, who finished 1-2-3, are 25- 34-29 years old, respectively.

Manosca was 45th out of 50 participants. But her presence here has a reason. With more training and rigorous competition, she could be an Asian champion. The winners in her event-the women’s 10-meter air pistol-were much older.

The Chinese gold medalist is 39, the Korean silver medal winner 22 and the North Korean bronze medalist 33.

In 50-meter air rifle prone, Palma was second to last in the field of 50. But the champion from China is 27, the runner-up from Kazakhstan 40 and the third-placer from Japan 29.    – G. Carpio

Finishing 44th among 52 shooters in the 10m air pistorlo, Chuatoco may soon catch up with the Chinese champion (24 years old), the Korean silver medalist (28) and the Korean bronze medalist (40).

“We believe that we are investing for the future. These kids will win for us what we elders could not yet do for now,” said Padilla.

The Indonesian shooting program also impressed Padilla because it is similar to the PNSA’s but of bigger magnitude.

“The Indonesians brought in 30 young shooters and they have no qualms about it,” he said.

“The goal is to go developmental and we are glad the Philippine Olympic Committee has supported us on this. The kids did not qualify under the criteria, but because of our objective, they agreed,” said Padilla.