Busan Asiad heroine roots for local riders

JAKARTA – Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski is easily one of the most recognizable Filipino personalities cheering for Filipino athletes here.

So unselfish, the champion equestrienne would have been qualified to compete but opted to just serve as team manager of the Phl squad out to showcase their skills and talent in the jumping event of the 26th SEA Games equestrian competition at the Arthayasa Stable Club in Depok, West Java.

“It’s really not in my plan to compete in the SEA Games,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, the reigning national champion, winning the title last March.

“I’m now at the point of my life where I should devote my time to my three kids. They’re growing so fast,” the beauteous rider also told The STAR.

Even then, Cojuangco-Jaworski, mom to Robbie (11), Rafael (nine) and Renzo (three), made it a point to be with the team, looking after national bets Toni Leviste, Joker Arroyo, Michelle Barrera and Diego Lorenzo.

They’ve been here since Friday even as the jumping event will only be played in the closing days of the biennial sports conclave.

“It’s for the familiarization and acclimatization with the surrounding,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, a 2002 Busan Asian Games gold medal winner in this discipline which requires good partnership with the rider and his/her mount.

Cojuangco-Jaworski’s horse Noble Blue is here to be ridden by her niece Barrera.

Leviste is with her long trusted horse Magic while Arroyo and Lorenzo will be atop Didi and Grace 292, repectively.

Cojuangco-Jaworski said the team is well capable of contending for the team and individual championships as they’ve done many times in the past.

In 2002, Cojuangco-Jaworski won the individual gold with the Busan Asian Games winding to a close. The Philippines then also grabbed the silver in the team event.

In 2005 in the Manila SEAG, the Filipino team took the gold with the individual silver coming along courtesy of Leviste.