PSC sees less than 100 athletes joining Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia Saturday said there could be no more than 100 athletes bound for the Asian Games but the agency is open to a bigger delegation if more athletes  meet the qualification criteria.

Garcia, who is also the chief of mission to the Asiad in Incheon, South Korea, said the PSC is looking at less than 100—about the number of athletes from softball, rugby and basketball as well as from a sprinkling of other sports.

“We don’t want to set a limit but we are looking at the number of athletes who may qualify,” he said.

The country sent 188 athletes to the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad and posted a 3-4-9 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

Garcia and the Asiad Task Force Saturday met with officials of boxing which is seeking P10.5-million for its preparations.

Dr. Ernest Jay Adalem of basketball said they have yet to vouch for the funding request although they recognize the fact that boxing remains the country’s best possible source of Asiad medals.

“We are here to make sure that we have enough budget for all the sports competing in the Asian Games,” said Adalem, who sat with fellow Task Force members Romeo Magat of tennis and Philippine Olympic Committee chair Tom Carrasco of triathlon.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines executive director Ed Picson said they are pushing for a 20-man pool in eight weight classes.