Table tennis, taekwondo officials air grievances

Equal opportunity for all athletes was a major concern of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) when it recently invited some of the stakeholders in taekwondo and table tennis to a dialogue that can hopefully resolve their differences.

Former officials and members of the Philippine Taekwondo Association aired their grievances before PSC Chair Butch Ramirez, citing some of the PTA’s financial requirements that their athletes in the provinces cannot afford.

“Athletes should not be deprived because they don’t have uniforms and they cannot pay,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez added he would bring up the issue with taekwondo grand master Sun Chong Hong, the PTA boss.

“He (Hong) might have no knowledge about these complaints,” said Ramirez.

Officials of the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap) and Table Tennis Association for National Development (Tatand) also paid Ramirez a visit, lamenting the exclusive approach of the Philippine Table Tennis Association on the selection of athletes for the national team.