IFUGAO native wrestler Jason Balabal will be flying abroad starting next month for a build-up training for some international competitions, including the 2010 Asian Games.
Balabal and Margarito Angana are secured in representing the country in the Guangzhou Asian Games if Philippine sports officials opt to field a team in wrestling.
The 22-year-old Balabal, who was among the gold medalists for the country in the biennial South East Asian meet last December, is expected to train in Cuba or Mongolia later this year after he recently got backing from a businessman.
“His training will be good for two to three months and we see a bright future for Jason,” Alvin Aguilar of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines said in an earlier interview.
Aguilar said they are still hoping to get support from other private firms to bankroll Balabal’s and province mate Angana’s training. Angana also won gold in Laos last year.
He said both will make good showings in their next international matches as part of their training would hone their skills and techniques.
Angana and Balabal earned the nod of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines after their impressive showing in the Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos.
Angana ruled the men’s 55kg class while Balabal dominated the 84kg weight division in the freestyle event.
Incidentally, both were not among the athletes fully funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in the Laos SEAG campaigns.
Balabal and Angana will also be included in the country’s line up for the upcoming First Youth Olympic Games slated middle of this year in Singapore.
“Both Jason and Margarito have shown marked improvement as in their style and fighting form and I’m sure they will give a good account of themselves in both the Asiad and Youth Olympic games,” added Aguilar. (Roderick Osis)