Shotgun shooter Olympics-bound

THE COUNTRY will have a crack at a medal in the shooting competition of the London Olympics with skeet shooter Brian del Rosario and trap specialist Hagen Topacio the leading candidates to represent the country in the shotgun event.

Philippine National Shooting Association president Mikee Romero yesterday said the International Sports Shooting Federation has assured the country of a spot in the shotgun event since the cast in the rifle and pistol events are already full.

“We have to lobby day in and day out for us not to lose that slot. We have chased the ISSF and International Olympic Committee all over the world for the Philippines to be given the wild card,” said a delighted Romero, who is in London attending the general assembly meeting of the International Sports Shooting Federation.

Topacio and del Rosario are currently under the Olympic scholarship programs of the IOC. The prospects actually look good for Del Rosario as he has already surpassed the score of the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold winner.

Del Rosario and Topacio were actually nominated by PNSA to the ISSF along with Tac Padilla, the country’s legend in pistol, and Jason Valdez, the standout in rifle.

Romero expressed gratitude to former

PNSA president Arturo Macapagal for his support in the lobby efforts that prompted ISSF vice president and Asian Shooting Confederation president Sheik Salman Al Sabaha Al Sabah to vigorously campaign for a Philippine wild card in the Olympics.

Manny Lopez, the country’s chef de mission to the quadrennial games, also rallied the Philippine Olympic Committee to help the

PNSA get the nod of the ISSF.

“I also would like to thank the members of the POC for their support in giving shooting a slot in the London Games,” added Romero, who is the president and CEO of Harbour Centre. Cedelf P. Tupas