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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
RP pugs prepare early for ’06 Asiad
By Frank C. Calapre
Sun.Star Correspondent
MANILA – The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) will start the new year with two international exposures as part of its preparation for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
Abap secretary-general Roger Fortaliza yesterday said that the RP boxing team will fly to Pinpri, Chinchvad, India on Jan. 7-12 to participate in the Asian Invitational Boxing Championship.
From there, the Filipino pugilists, fresh from their overall victory in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod City, will then see action in the 3rd Greenhills International Boxing Cup in Karachi, Pakistan on Feb. 12-18.
Early training
“We just gave them at least two weeks to rest. It’s also Christmas, so we allowed them to go home to their respective provinces,” said Fortaliza.
He said the 22-athlete RP boxing pool, from which the RP squad will be selected, will start rigid training on Jan. 2.
“There are a lot of expectations from the team so we have to prepare hard and deliver the targeted medals in the Asian Games,” said Fortaliza, whose wards regained the boxing overall crown with a total of eight golds in the recent Seag.
The RP boxing team went home empty handed in the Busan Asian Games in 2002, which Fortaliza said should be redeemed in Qatar this December.
The RP boxing team’s last glory in the Asiad was in 1994, when it won three gold medals courtesy of Romeo Brin, Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco and Rey Galido.
15 events
Fortaliza said that the stints in India and Pakistan are just two of the 15 international competitions already being arranged for the RP boxing team for 2006 in preparation for the Asian Games.
Boxing is one of the 10 priority sports disciplines mentioned by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be given more funding in the country’s quest to win the first Olympic gold in 2008 in Beijing. The others are taekwondo, archery, diving, shooting, swimming and athletics.
Meanwhile, former Philippine Olympic Committee president and Gintong Alay project director Michael Keon said the Philippines can surpass the 2002 three-gold output in the 2006 Asian Games.
“If our athletes were able to win the overall title in the last SEA Games with very short preparations, I don’t see any reason why they will not succeed in the Asian Games,” said Keon, who was one of those responsible for the victory of the Team Philippines being the Philippine Sports Commission’s national training director.
(December 28, 2005 issue)
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