SEAG: Go Teng Kok sees six gold medals for athletics

MANILA—Athletics chief Go Teng Kok predicted his team will be good for six or seven gold medals in the this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Athletics, which stakes 46 gold medals, has been a consistent feeder of victories for the Philippines in the biennial meet and Go sees a new generation of athletes to rise to the occasion in Indonesia.

“In Southeast Asia it’s still Thailand. Then there’s Vietnam and Indonesia. But we’re catching up along with Malaysia,” Go said Tuesday at the PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila.

The Filipinos won seven gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos.

“We won seven gold medals the last time. Of this seven, I’m counting on six to defend their crowns,” said Go.

Winning SEA Games titles in Laos were Rene Herrera (3000-m steeplechase), Eduardo Buenavista (men’s marathon), Arniel Ferrera (hammer throw), Danilo Fresnido (javelin), Jho-An Banayag (women’s marathon), Marestella Torres (long jump) and Rosie Villarito (javelin).

Go said his team is capable of pulling a surprise with the younger athletes at his disposal.

“They kept on asking who these athletes are and where they came from. They didn’t even know them and they won medals in Vietnam. I want them to be as surprised in the SEA Games,” he said.

Among the young athletes who has impressed Go and head coach Joseph Sy are Niño Espinosa (long jump), Jayson Ramil Sid (400 meters and 400m long hurdles) and Eliezer Sunang (shotoput) who all performed well in the recent Vietnam Open.

At the rate of their improvement, Sy said the young stalwarts will be ready for battle by November.

“These are our future champions so I’m now appealing to the Philippine Sports Commission to include them in the national pool. Right now, they are on their own, and we at Patafa spend for them,” said Go.