2010 Guangzhou Asian Games...

[Tom A. Saiyan]

Hopefully this time around mas maganda ang ipakita ng select few... kahit 3 golds lang at maraming silvers at bronzes ayos na...

[Tom A. Saiyan]

Six new events in Guangzhou Asiad
By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
January 12, 2010, 4:06pm

Six new sports event will be introduced in the 16th Asian Games set in China late this year, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) spokesperson Joey Romasanta announced Tuesday.
Romasanta, who attended the 1st world press briefing of the Asian Games last month, said cricket, dance sport, dragon boat, roller sports, weiqi or go (board game) and xianqi (Chinese chess) will debut in the quadrennial meet set Nov. 12 to 27 in Guangzhou.

Of the six events, the Philippines can only participate in the dance sport and dragon boat.
The total number of gold medals at stake in the four events has yet to be finalized.

Still, Romasanta remains optimistic of the country’s chances in the quadrennial event. The Philippines collected four golds, six silvers and nine bronzes during the Doha Asian Games four years ago.

“We have a ratio to number of participant to events and medals. I think meron tayong panlaban diyan. I think we will have a very credible performance in the Games,” said Romasanta in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission dining hall.

Romasanta said the POC board will convene next week to form a task force which will set the requirements and criteria for all athletes seeking to participate in the meet.

Romasanta also said they are going to tackle the issue on who will be the country’s chef de mission for the event although Steve Hontiveros, the former POC secretary-general, appears to have an inside track for the job.

Meanwhile, Romasanta said the POC will start to distribute accreditation forms for all media groups for the quadrennial meet.

Accreditation for media starts Jan.15 until April 30.

“We hope to comply with the deadline,’ Romasanta said.

Romasanta, who joined the group that toured the playing venues, said everything is almost ready although some stadiums are still undergoing renovations.

The Philippines is coming off a surprise finish in the Laos Southeast Asian Games where it collected 35 gold, 38 silver and 51 bronze medals to improve to fifth overall, a notch higher than the previous biennial meet in Thailand.

So far, only karatekas May Soriano and Marna Paviliano are assured of berths to the Asian Games on account of the recent showing. Soriano was bronze medalist in an Asian meet while Paviliano is the lone gold medalist in karatedo in the previous SEA Games.

Manila Bulletin