Archers Javier, Cabral make Phl Olympic team

MANILA, Philippines - Archers Mark Javier and Rachel Cabral earned tickets to the forthcoming London Olympics following their steady performances in the just-concluded World Archery Championships in Ogden, Utah.

With Javier and Cabral in, the number of Filipino athletes who will vie in the Summer Games scheduled July 27 to Aug. 12 has risen to 11, with one more boxer hoping to catch the last bus.

Terry Lim, secretary-general of the National Archery Association of the Philippines, yesterday said Javier and Cabral worked hard for their inclusion to the London Olympics.

Lim said Javier, who also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finished 42nd in his event while Cabral was 37th out of more than a hundred participants.

Lim said 35 countries saw action in Ogden event which also served as the third and last qualifying tournament for the London Olympics.

“Eric and Rachel really did very well,” said Lim, adding that the there were only eight Olympic slots for women and seven for men that were offered in Ogden.

“They really worked hard under our Korean coach, Chun Jae-Hun, who came in last May. Having a Korean coach really had a big effect on our team.”

Already in the London-bound Philippine team are tracksters Marestella Torres and Rene Herrera, swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Lacuna, boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, BMX rider Daniel Caluag, judoka Tomohiko Hoshina, shooter Brian Rosario and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

Except for Caluag and Hoshina who are based overseas, the Filipino Olympians will be treated to a send-off party tomorrow evening at the McKinley Hill Village.

The fate of boxer Charly Suarez remains in the hands of the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) following a request from the Philippine Olympic Committee for his inclusion as a wild-card entry.

Suarez failed to qualify outright to London when he lost to China’s Liu Quiang in the lightweight final of an Asian qualifying tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan a couple of months ago.

But Filipino officials believed that Suarez got the raw end of the officiating, and therefore he deserves a slot to London. Even boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao wrote the AIBA on behalf of Suarez.

Manny Lopez, chef de mission of the Phl delegation to London, said Suarez has until July 9 to be included in the London lineup because after that date no other inclusion will be considered.

“I believe that anyone among them can deliver a medal in London. They wouldn’t be here if they can’t, whether they made it there by merit or via wild card,” said Lopez.