Russian coaches to help train Pinoys

PSC Chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Russia, a superpower in the Olympics, will create a significant bond with the Philippines through sports.

Besides the forthcoming epic rematch between Grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Eugene Torre, the Philippine Sports Commission will help bring in world-class coaches in medal-rich gymnastics, shooting and fencing.

PSC Chair William Ramirez discussed the alliance with Maxim Ananyin, Humanitarian Attache from the Embassy of the Russian Federation, Monday along with national training director Marc Edward Velasco and PSC senior executive assistant Ronnel Abrenica.

“We’ll be hiring excellent Russian coaches at reasonable prices,” said Ramirez.

Like Australia, Russia has a sports institute in Moscow where most, if not all, its Olympic medalists come from.

The Karpov-Torre rematch will be tentatively held end of February or early March at Camp John Hay in Baguio City.

Torre defeated Karpov, world champion from 1975 to 1985, in Manila in 1976.