Young shooter eyeing Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - Unlike most girls her age, this pretty 17-year-old dreams of making it to the Olympics.

It won’t come this year for the London Games but Alyanna Krystle Chuatoco, currently the country’s top female air pistol shooter, said she can wait.

“I hope the day comes when I get to compete in the Olympics,” said the graduating high school student at the Immaculate Concepcion Academy (ICA) in Greenhills.

“That’s why I’m working so hard out in the range,” she said with a ready smile.

“We have young female shooters who can make it to the Olympics someday. I’m just one of them. We all share the common goal which is to shoot for our country.”

Aside from Alyanna, there’s Shanin Gonzales, Laarni Limkin and Mica Padilla, daughter of the legendary Pinoy shooter, Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla.

For her age, Alyanna is no greenhorn. She’s been to several international competitions, and carried the Philippine colors to the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

Alyanna finished inside the top 20, out of a field of more than 50, and according to her father, Allen Chuatoco, it was something to be proud of.

“In shooting, the Asian Games is at par with the Olympics. And if she did well there on her first try, I think she can make it to the Olympics someday,” he said.

Alyanna has been to the Thailand Open, where she won a couple of silver medals, the Singapore Open and the Beijing World Cup.

There are more to come. This summer, she will see action in the Southeast Asia Shooting Association Championships in Malaysia to represent the Philippines.

Allen is no stage father. But he’s certainly leaving no stone unturned making sure her daughter gets all the support she needs to excel.

“We enjoy some support from the government but you have to spend your own money. And most of the time the results far outweigh the amount. We’re happy with that,” he said.

Just last week, Alyanna topped the air pistol 10m event of the fourth National Youth Development Program shootfest at Fort Bonifacio.

Alyanna, who turns 18 on May 31, ruled the event with 371 points, followed by Gonzales with 360 and Limkin with 358.

She was a shoo-in for the Philippine Team to the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, but she had to beg off because of conflicts with her studies.

The day of the competition came right along with Alyanna’s entrance exams at Ateneo (communication technology management). She stayed home and passed the test.

“Studies first,” said the newest member of the Ateneo air pistol team.

“Then hopefully the Olympics later,” she added.

Alyanna is right on target.