PH wrestlers leave for long Iran training

A six-man wrestling team led by defending Southeast Asian Games champions Margarito Angana Jr. and Jason Balabal left for Iran over the weekend for an intensive, four-month training for the SEAG in Myanmar  (Burma) in December.

Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Albert Balde, who will stay with the team in Iran for the first 10 days to inspect the training sites, said the training camp is the longest ever for the PH team hoping  to surpass its harvest of two golds, three silvers and three bronzes two years ago in Indonesia.

“Our athletes have trained in Mongolia and Bulgaria in the past for up to three months. I’m sure this training will bear fruit come the 2013 SEA Games,” added Balde.

Angana, from Zamboanga City, and Balabal of Tinoc, Ifugao, won in the 55-kg and 88-kg weight class, respectively of Greco-Roman wrestling in 2011 to match their golden performance two years ago.

Joining them in Iran are veteran freestyle wrestlers Alvin Lobreguito (55 kg), Johnny Morte (60 kg), Joseph Angana (65 kg) and Greco-Roman bet  Noel Norada (60 kg).

Coach Jimmy Angana and his Iranian counterpart Ashkan Ghaedrahmat will also be in the training camp funded by the Philippine Sports Commission.