PH shooters hunting for Olympic berths get backing of gun dealers’ group

MANILA, Philippines–Four of the country’s top shooters will gun for Olympic berths from Nov. 2 to 11 in Doha, Qatar.

Eric Ang, Carlos Carag, Jethro Dionisio and Hagen Topacio will carry the country’s colors in the Doha event, which is the last Qualifying event for Asia by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

The four will be supported by the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc., which count the national athletes as its members.

‘‘We wish our shooters the best of luck,’’ said AlaricTopacio, brother of Hagen and president of Afad during a media event hosted by the group at Milky Way cafe in Makati City.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez, the country’s chef de mission in the Southeast Asian Games, is confident that the Philippine National Shooting team can book Olympic berths.

“We now have two Olympians in Tokyo, but we need more. That is why the PSC is supportive of all these exposures and competitions so that our athletes get big chances at making it to the ultimate competition of their careers—the Olympics,” Ramirez said.

World championship gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena have already gained seats in the Tokyo Games.