Strong winds may affect archers’ bid

NAYPYITAW—Strong winds threaten to become a decisive factor when the Philippine archery team steps into the range beginning Saturday in the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

Out to retain the compound title,  Earl Benjamin Yap, Delfin Anthony Adriano, Jose Ferdinand Adriano and Ian Patrick Chipeco get going in the qualifying round of the men’s individual compound at Wunna Theikdi archery field.

Coach Rosendo Sombrio said the top three Filipinos in the individual qualifying will figure in the country’s title-retention bid in the 50-meter, 72-arrow team finale on Dec. 16.

“The wind was strong and unpredictable the past few days,” said Sombrio, part of the gold-winning compound squad in 2011 in  Indonesia with Yap and Delfin Adriano.  “I hope it gets calmer by the time we play.”

Chipeco, 18, is a bright prospect for a medal, having won the individual compound in the Philippine National Games and placed 17th in the Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok early this year.

“We can win two golds if we’re lucky,” said Sombrio.  “But for now, we need focus and hope the wind blows in our favor.”