SEA Games chef-de-mission airs confidence

MANILA, Philippines - Based on his initial meetings with the different sports associations, the chef-de-mission of the Philippine team to the 2015 SEA Games is confident that the goal can be achieved in Singapore.

“Our primary goal is to improve on our last finish,” said Julian Camacho, secretary-general of the Philippine Wushu Federation and treasurer of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The Philippines finished seventh in 2013 in Myanmar with its haul of 29 gold, 34 silver and 37 bronze medals. It’s the lowest finish for the country in SEA Games history.

Camacho said with 402 medals in 36 sports at stake in Singapore next June, the Philippines should be in a better place if it wins at least 10 percent of the total.

Jose Cojuangco, the POC president, and Richie Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, are hoping for a better finish of inside the top five.

Camacho said the Philippines can win 50 gold medals with a full delegation of 500 athletes in 34 sports.

“If only the sports offering 30-, 40 or 50  gold medals can win five golds each for our country, and I think there are five of them, then half the job is done,” he said.

“I’m asking five gold medals from each of them. I’m not asking for more,” Camacho added.

Camacho mentioned athletics, aquatics, shooting, gymnastics, rowing, canoe kayak and dragon boat as among the medal-rich sports in next year’s SEA Games.

“Then if boxing, taekwondo, wushu and some other sports can win two or three golds each then we can break 50,” he added.

“Simple mathematics,” Camacho said.

The SEA Games management committee composed of Camacho, POC vice president Jose Romasanta, Moying Martelino, Chippy Espiritu and Jonne Go is doing the rounds of the different sports.

The committee is making sure that athletes with medal chances can compete in the next SEA Games.

So far, according to Camacho, the meetings with the various national sports associations (NSAs) have provided positive results.

“Some say they can win as many as six gold medals. And if we total them, we’re good for the overall championship. I just hope they can deliver,” he said.