Volley, wushu bets to skip parade, opt to practice

JAKARTA—The women’s volleyball team made a lot of noise the wrong way when critics targeted its inclusion in the Philippine Asian Games delegation. They’re never going to win against world-class competition, detractors said.

The team is aware of that, hence, it’s doing everything to prove worthy of a ticket to this continental meet. In fact, the team opted to skip a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the parade of athletes that will open the Asiad Saturday night at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The women’s volleyball team, back in the Games for the first time in 36 years, will instead prepare for a match with bitter Southeast Asian region foe Thailand on Sunday.

“We need this practice because our game on Sunday will be very tough,” said Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas president Peter Cayco. “We also want to make a point that we belong here.”

The wushu team will also skip the parade to get its athletes in their sharpest form yet for their competition that also starts Sunday.

“Our athletes will have to make their weight limits on Saturday, so some of them will be very hungry on that day,” said national sparring coach Jessie Aligaga in Filipino.