Boxers get Baku blueprint; paddlers’ plot persists

SACRAMENTO—The clock is ticking for the country’s campaign in the London Olympics next year. Athletes not worried about sports politics—just doing things right—are hard at work in their discipline.

Take the boxers, in whose fists rest the country’s hope of capturing its first gold medal ever in the Olympiad.

Our pugs are not cutting corners and continue to train for the Olympic qualifiers—the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sept. 22 to Oct. 10 and the Asian Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April of next year.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson has released the list of boxers now in camp, preparing for the qualifiers. The roster consists of 14 boxers, 11 men and three women. The men’s team is missing Asian Games bronze medalist Victorio Saludar who injured his right hand while sparring two weeks ago and may have to undergo surgery, Ed said.

Here’s Ed’s list:

Light-flyweight Anthony Barriga; flyweights (Asian Games gold medalist) Rey Saludar and Gerson Nietes; bantamweights Junel Cantancio and Joan Tipon; lightweights Charly Suarez and Orlando Tacuyan; light welterweights Rolando Tacuyan and Dennis Galvan; welterweights Delfin Boholst and Wilfredo Lopez; women’s pinweight Josie Gabuco; women’s light flyweight Alice Kate Aparri and women’s bantamweight Nesthy Petecio.

The final selection will be made after the team’s forthcoming training at the British Institute of Sports in Sheffield, England.

The goal is to qualify as many boxers as possible in Baku. Those who don’t make it will get a second chance in Astana next year. Ed hopes the boxers, all tested internationalists, would reach peak form in time for the Baku boxfest.

To be able to box at the ExCel Center in London next year, our boxers must  reach the semifinals of their respective weight classes.

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Politicians could not resist igniting a few more fireworks last week about the golden, albeit controversial trip of the dragon boaters in Florida recently.
Heads should roll at the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, the speechmakers shouted for the gallery and the nation to hear, as the paddlers’ story continued to unfold.
The tale of the black sheep who returns home with a trove of gold medals for the country was destined from the outset to take over the sports pages, even page 1, because it is a melodrama with exactly the same plot that fascinates people, as long as there’s been media stories to tell.
The sports aristocrats have taken a good deal of stick for ignoring this wayward child but are steadfastly clinging to their word and their duty to hold on to the dwindling family riches.
Join the family, become a national sports association, or hook up with one, the PSC and the POC are telling the paddlers. Unless you gather with us around the family table once more, there will be absolutely no support, monetary or otherwise, for you. The paddlers for sure won’t accept this admonition with a smile on their faces.
And the plots and storylines about our paddlers and dysfunctional sports family will continue to fascinate and aren’t likely to diminish in appeal anytime soon.