Phl pins Asiad hopes on pugs, jins

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will pin its hopes again on perennial gold medal source boxing and taekwondo as it gears up for the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea in September.

Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Tom Carrasco cited the two sports based on past records and consistency in terms of winning not only within the region but outside of Asia as well.

Through Rey Saludar, boxing produced one of three gold medals the Philippine contingent won during the 2010 edition of the Asiad in Guangzhou, China. Pool player Dennis Orcollo and bowler Biboy Rivera accounted for the other two golds.

“Potential is boxing and taekwondo,” said Carrasco, a member of the joint POC-Philippine Sports Commission Task Force, when asked about which sports he thought are potential winners in the quadrennial meet set Sept. 19 to Oct. 4

“We also hope the wushu team to deliver although China is expected to dominate,” he added. “I also think cycling in the BMX, basketball, and bowling.”

The Filipinos also bagged four silver and nine bronze medals in the Guangzhou Games, figures which Carrasco said he hopes will all be surpassed this time.

However, Carrasco, the president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, refused to make an early forecast on the possible gold medals the country will win.

“We’re not going to make any prediction. We have to wait for the complete profile of the teams. But hopefully, we’ll be able to surpass what we achieved in the Guangzhou Asiad,” said Carrasco.

Carrasco, the country’s chef de mission when it won three golds in the Busan Asiad 12 years ago, said the PSC-POC Task Force is now in the process of pruning down the composition of the Philippine delegation by holding meetings with the various National Sports Associations (NSAs).

And the POC official vows that only the most deserving athlete will go to Incheon.

Deadline for submission by number is in April, while entry by name is on Aug. 15.