Marksman Arellano keeps YOG medal focus

NANJING—Unfazed by the caliber of the field, Celdon Jude Arellano steps onto the range Wednesday hungry for a medal in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

“I’ve been here for six days and very excited to go out there and compete,” said the 17-year-old information technology student a day before he competes in the men’s 10-meter air rifle qualification round at Fangshan Shooting Hall.

Arellano, a protege of former world junior shooting champion and veteran internationalist Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, arrived here Thursday last week with his coach Julius Valdez and has been visiting the target venue daily.

“He’s been doing well in practice,” said Valdez. “I’m sure he will give the world-class competition a good fight.”

Prior to the Games, Arellano saw action in the world shootfest held in Beijing and Munich where he vied against the world’s top-ranked shooters from Italy, Serbia, China, Hungary, Germany and Japan.

Chief of mission Jonne Go is confident that Arellano would perform well in the event where each shooter fires 60 shots.

“I’m sure he’s eager to compete by now and give his best,” said Go of the country’s lone shooter in the Games.

Padilla, gold medalist in the 1976 World Junior Shooting Championships in Mexico, also knows Arellano has the potential to excel in the sport.

“He’s young and he has the skills to become a champion some day. And he needs our support,” said Padilla.