INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?The strength of the competition in the Guangzhou Asian Games has so intimidated some national sports associations (NSAs) that they are foregoing the chance to send athletes to the biennial meet on Nov. 12 to 27.

Instead, the NSAs are channeling their efforts and resources to prepare for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Joey Romasanta, the country?s chief of mission to the Guangzhou Asiad, said several NSAs, including baseball and squash, are candid enough to admit that winning a medal in the Asiad is a long shot considering their athletes? recent performances.

Romasanta declined to identify the other NSAs who he said have begged off from vying in the Asiad.

?They were honest to admit that their athletes will not deliver in the Asian Games,? said Romasanta. ?I appreciate their truthfulness because it will make our job of determining the composition of the national team easier.?

Romasanta, also the spokesperson of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said squash chief Romeo Ribano echoed sentiments of baseball officials who projected that their ballers? best finish in Guangzhou could be fourth, behind Asian powers South Korea, Japan, China and Chinese-Taipei which are all expected to field professional players.

The 35 NSAs whose sports are in the Asiad calendar submitted their respective training programs and budget requirements last week to help the POC.

The POC has until August to determine the size of the RP delegation.