
A small but lean Philippine contingent is geared up to compete for medals in the World Games which officially started Thursday (Friday in Manila) in Birmingham, Alabama.
The team joined the parade of colors with powerlifter Joyce Gail Reboton carrying the Philippine flag in the opening ceremony at the Protective Stadium.
Delayed a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, chef de mission Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the Filipino athletes are optimistic for the games that are played widely all over the world but are not included in the Olympic program.
“Our athletes are ready for the competition and hopefully we’re going to make the podium,” said Gregorio, president of the Philippine Rowing Association.
Pool champion Carlo Biado, who won the country’s only gold medal so far in the 2017 edition in Wroclaw, Poland, banners the squad that is also composed of fellow billiards ace Rubilen Amit, jiu-jitsu champion Annie Ramirez, karate star Junna Tsukii, muay sensations Philip Delarmino and Leeana Bade, and duathlon top bets Marion Kim Mangrobang, John Chicano and Fer Caseres.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino has high hopes that the athletes could add to the one gold, five silver and five bronze medals that the country has won in the games since Filipino athletes started participating in the games’ debut in 1981 in Santa Clara, California.
“Coming off the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, our athletes are prepared for the competition,” Tolentino said.
“They have tapered down from the Vietnam SEA Games and are now in peak form.”
This year’s edition features 3,600 athletes from 110 countries.