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By Eddie G. Alinea, Contributor
THE two Cuban coaches who were
recruited to help the country’s bid to earn more Olympic berths
will arrive next week.
Juan Enrique Styner Tisert and
Dago Berto Scot are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, a day after
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez set foot in
Manila, following a week’s stay in Los Angeles where he ironed out
some details in the Filipino athletes’ training in California in
regards to the country’s quest for its first Olympic gold medal.
“The chairman will be arriving
Tuesday to pave the way for the arrival of the two Cuban coaches,”
said PSC Commissioner Eric Loretizo during the Accel-sponsored
session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura Friday. “The
duo’s arrival will signal the joint efforts of the PSC and ABAP
for additional Olympic berths in the last qualifying tournament in
Kazakhstan next month.“
Loretizo also announced that the
board of commissioners, in its last meeting, has approved several
more requests of the different national sports associations that are
hoped to brighten up the Filipino athletes’ chances to win the
gold medal that has remained a dream since the first time the
Philippines competed in the quadrennial conclave in 1924.
Recurve archer Mark Javier, one
of the 12 athletes, who have so far made the trip to Beijing, will
be provided with a five-month training stint in Cairo after the
board approved a $19,963.55 grant as requested by the National
Archery Association of the Philippines.
The amount, the new PSC
commissioner explained, will also cover Javier’s participation in
three World Cup stages that are scheduled in Croatia, Turkey and
France.
Also approved was a request for
the participation of compound archers Amaya Paz, Jennifer Chan,
Abbigail Tindugan and Marvin Cordero in the First Asian Grand Prix
set February 25 to March 1 in Bangkok.
The PSC, likewise, gave it
imprimatur to the training of hurdler Sheena Atilano from February
to June in Temecula, California in preparation for several Olympic
qualifying competitions.
Also extended financial
assistance is the 48-day honing up stint of six Filipino judokas –
John Baylon, Gilbert Ramirez, Tomihiko Hoshina, Nancy Quillotes,
Helen Dawa and Estie Gay Liwanen from March 4 to April 20 in Japan.
After their Japan training,
Baylon and company are taking part in the last of a series of
Olympic qualifying tournament scheduled April 23-28 in Jeju, South
Korea.
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