Philippines makes news in Kuala Lumpur

MANILA, Philippines - Even before the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games formally kicks off, the Philippine delegation has been making news in the Malaysian capital.

The leading English-language tabloid in Malaysia, The Star, yesterday ran a story headlined, “Philippines cry foul over athletics program schedule.”

It’s about an appeal made by the Philippines on behalf of its track and field team and its top runner, Fil-American Eric Cray, who will vie in the men’s 100m dash and 400m hurdles.

Cray, who saw action in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is the reigning SEA Games champion in both events, and barring any misfortune, remains a favorite this year.

But Malaysian organizers have come up with a schedule that will make it extremely difficult for the 28-year-old Cray to sweep the two events.

Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association president Philip Juico noted as early as late in June that the preliminary heats in the 100-m race and 400-m hurdles on Aug. 22 are just 30 minutes apart, and the latter filed an appeal through Philippine delegation chef-de-mission Cynthia Carrion and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“We strongly believe that this schedule is inimical to the optimum performance and safety of athletes who will see action in both events,” said Juico in his appeal made “in the name of harmony.”

“We are therefore appealing to the organizers’ prudent judgment to consider amending the events schedule. Appropriate spacing of events will give athletes enough time to recover for the next competition,” he added.

The appeal fell on deaf ears.

Last July 22, Carrion received a letter from the Malaysian organizers saying, “Your POC appeal for a change in the athletics schedule was forwarded... for consideration. We are informed by the technical delegate (TD) and regret to inform you that your POC appeal for the change was not successful.”

Carrion was in Kuala Lumpur for the delegation registration meeting (DRM) earlier this week, and came home with the news that nothing can be done with regards to the schedule of races for Cray.

“But it looks like there is already a controversy brewing,” said the article carried by the Malaysian tabloid that has a daily circulation of nearly 250,000, showing a picture of Cray celebrating his victory during the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.

“The Philippines are up in arms” and “this has left their star athlete, Eric Cray, in a fix as he’s down to compete in both races (100m in 10.25 seconds and 400m hurdles in 49.40 seconds),” the article added.

Cray, who is based in Texas, is left with two options: run both races and risk his health or choose to compete in just one.

It’s not only in athetics where the Philippines is bound to suffer in the race for the gold but in other sports such as boxing, wushu and weightlifting among others.

Women’s boxing was totally scratched from this year’s calendar because, according to Philippine amateur boxing official Ed Picson,” Malaysia does not have female boxers.”

In wushu, events where the Filipinos are strongest will not be played. Weightlifting, an Olympic sports, is off the calendar as well, denying Hidilyn Diaz, who won the silver medal for the Philippines in last year’s Olympics, a clear shot at the gold.

Malaysia is hoping to win the overall crown this year, and for the first time since 2001 when it hosted the SEA Games and bagged 111 gold medals.

“I don’t want to think that there is someone who deliberately designed the schedule. I hope there’s none,” Patafa coach Sean Guevarra was quoted as saying.