Boom or Doomed
Cynthia Carrion
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will either deliver the gold medals as projected and predicted by sports officials or it will spell disaster when the 29th Southeast Asian Games takes place this month in Kuala Lumpur.
Chef-de-mission Cynthia Carrion has tried her best overseeing the composition and preparation of the Philippine contingent made up of 495 athletes and 163 coaches and trainers.
The head of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines has predicted 50 gold medals for the Filipino athletes, who will try to surpass the sixth place finish of 29 gold, 36 silver and 66 bronze medals two years ago in Singapore.
The SEA Games task force head, on the other hand, has been more conservative with his estimate of 35 gold medals for the Philippines in the event running from Aug. 19 to 31 in the Malaysian capital.
Whether it’s 35 or 50 gold medals, Tom Carrasco of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines told The STAR the other day that the target must be reached.
There is no assurance that 35 gold medals will carry the Philippines to a higher ranking this year. But to surpass the number of gold medals won in 2015 in Singapore will get the job half done.
Otherwise, it will be disastrous.
“We must win the medals. Kung hindi, todas tayo (Or else, we are doomed),” said Carrasco, adding that the country can’t afford another finish lower than fifth place in the 11-nation event.
Since winning the overall title in 2005 in Manila, the Philippines has never been in the top three overall in the SEA Games.
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