Vargas mulls withdrawal of PHL boxers from international contests

JAKARTA – Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas expressed mixed feelings on the performance of the Filipino athletes in the 18th Asian Games – happy on the improvement from the overall medal tally but sad on the results from his own sports of boxing.

“In terms of the medal haul, I’m very happy for Team Philippines. From one gold (in the last Asian Games in Incheon in 2014), we’ve done better here,” said Vargas.

“But from the sports that I lead, I’m frustrated not on how our athletes performed but on how the results were judged,” Vargas also said.

The national sports association chief for boxing, Vargas was at ringside as at least three Filipino pugs were declared losers on what everybody felt here was flagrant unfair judging.

“Baka sabihin I’m sour-groping. But when presidents of other boxing federations and boxers came to your dugout and said you won the bout, it gives you a sense injustice has been done. When the crowd was booing and cheering for the Philippines, there’s something wrong that must have happened,” Vargas said.

“Kung sa akin lang, I would withdraw participation of our boxers in international tournaments until such time they do something about the continuing controversies in international amateur boxing,” Vargas also said.

But he understands the possible downsides of such a move, including possible suspension by the international federation and the lost of incomes for the Filipino amateur boxers.

Basically, he wants reform in the dubious AIBA judging that he said is slowly killing the sport.

"It’s not for us but for the fighters. It’s for fairness and integrity. Kawawa ang mga fighters. They trained hard for a long time, then what,” said Vargas.

Another frustration for Vargas is that all they can do is just to make noise as protest is not allowed by the Amateur International Boxing Association.

“What kind of rule is that? Other sports have their grievance committee,” said Vargas.

Overall, he said he learned a lot from his first Asian Games as the national Olympic committee chief.

“More inclusive NSAs with leadership that looks for the best talent to represent the country would generally be more successful. NSAs that have no conflict in leadership generally would have better results. NSAs with accountability for their actions are more successful,” Vargas said.

“Problema natin ang swimming. They have so many events, they’re zero. Athletics, tennis and badminton (and others) couldn’t deliver,” he rued.

He’s glad there’s the woman power allowing the national anthem heard in the games.