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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Philippines joins Asian Indoor Games in Thailand
Two weeks before the Southeast Asian Games start, 52 Filipino athletes will compete in the 1st Asian Indoor Games today at the Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok, Thailand.
A total 121 gold medals in nine events will be at stake in the eight-day competition, which drew more than 2,000 participants from 37 countries.
“We have a very strong chance in dancesport,” said Philippine chief-de-mission Harry Angping. “We’re also optimistic in futsal and muay Thai.”
Aside from the three sports, the Philippines will compete in aerobics and extreme sports.
Out of reach
The country’s quest for a strong overall finish, however, could be out of reach since the Philippines won’t field athletes in several medal-rich events such as swimming, which has the most number of events at 40, and athletics, which has 26 golds at stake.
The Philippines has also no entry in hoop takraw and indoor cycling.
“Japan and China remain the traditional powerhouses along with Korea and Thailand,” said assistant chief-de-mission Red Dumuk.
Only the RP futsal team arrived yesterday morning, while the rest of the Philippine delegation will arrive in the next two days.
The dancesport competition is scheduled on Nov. 14 and 15, with Dancesport Council president Becky Garcia leading the Philippine campaign.
Same group
“It will be the same group competing in the SEA Games that’s why we have a good shot at winning the gold,” said Angping.
In past tournaments, the country has been leaning on the pairs of Michael Mendoza and Belinda Adora, Rico Rosena and Fe Salvador, John Errol Melencio and Dearlyn Herodias, and Noel Reyes and Maira Rosete.
The Philippines will field two athletes in muay Thai, four in aerobics, seven in extreme sports (two in BMX stunts and five in sports climbing), 11 pairs in dancesport and a Women’s team in futsal.
(November 12, 2005 issue)
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