Ledesma withdraws POC candidacy

Table tennis chief Ting Ledesma backtracked from running in the coming Philippine Olympic Committee elections, denying he has made himself available to become one of the local Olympic body’s top officials.

The president of the Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc. yesterday formally informed POC election committee chair Frank Elizalde of his desire to withdraw his candidacy in the Nov. 25 polls.

Ledesma was supposed to run as auditor under the ticket of boxing chief Ricky Vargas, who will challenge incumbent president Jose Cojuangco Jr. He denied ever filing the candidacy before the POC.

“I just arrived [Monday night] from a tournament in Indonesia. I didn’t file any thing with the POC,” said Ledesma. “I don’t want to run. I will just support whoever wins.”

Vargas, president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, submitted his candidacy along with cycling’s Abraham  Tolentino (chair), muay’s Lucas Managuelod (second vice president) and basketball’s Sonny Barrios (treasurer).