RP team can win more than 15 gold medals

Eleven National Sports Associations (NSAs) downplayed the 15 to 20 gold medal forecast made by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping saying that the country can win more in the 25th Laos Southeast Asian Games.

The 11 NSAs – composed of athletics, swimming, archery, taekwondo, wushu, wrestling, tennis, judo, sepak takraw and shooting – are one in saying that the Philippine delegation can win a minimum of 37 to a maximum of 44 gold medals.

Team officials of each NSA recently met with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr.

The maximum output of 44 gold medals, if achieved, will improve the 42-gold medal haul by the national delegation during the 2007 Thailand Games, which gave the country its worst finish at sixth overall.

Athletics is expected to win seven gold medals while aquatics, that includes swimming, is eyeing five which is the same prediction by billiards.

Archery is targeting three gold medals while the contact sports of taekwondo and wushu pledged a combined nine medals with the former looking at four while the latter is hoping to bring home three to five gold medals.

Wrestling also predicted three to five gold medals while lawn tennis, with the Filipino-American combination of Cecil Mamiit and Trett Conrad Huey leading the campaign, eyes one to four gold medals.

Judo, sepak takraw and shooting each are hoping to win at least two gold medals.

“We really feel we can do well in the Laos SEA Games," said Cojuangco.

The Philippines’ medal haul could increase since the country will be competing in 25 sports events in the Laos SEA Games if the 14 other NSAs could also deliver.

Medal-rich boxing, muay and cycling – events which has been a gold mine for the country in international tournaments – did not make any prediction.

Angping earlier predicted that the country could only win 15 to 20 gold medals based on studies the PSC made on the performances of the country’s top athletes in the 2005 and 2007 edition of the biennial meet.

Angping added that his prediction should serve as a challenge to the NSAs to prove him wrong come December.

Athletics, archery, aquatics, billiards, taekwondo, judo, tennis and wushu are among the consistent gold medal producers for the country in the last two SEAG based on the PSC study.

Wrestling, sepak takraw and shooting failed to win a gold in Thailand after a strong showing in 2005.

“We’re going to study the list of potential athletes and will again meet the NSAs one by one to determine our possible rivals in the SEA Games. We’ll try to do everything possible to have a decent showing in the SEA Games," added Cojuangco. – GMANews.TV