PH boxers step up preparation
MANILA—After nailing three bronze medals in the China Open last week, the national boxers are now entering a crucial phase of their preparation for the Aiba Men’s World Championships and the Southeast Asian Games.
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson said the federation will send six male and four female boxers to the President’s Cup in Indonesia on July 2 to 9 before dispatching the team’s elite squad to a three-week training in England.
Picson said next stops for the boxers are the Asian Championships to be held in Korea in August and the world championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sept. 16 to Oct. 1, where the PH boxers hope to snare at least four slots to the 2012 London Olympics.
“So far, our program is on track,” said Picson. “Our coaches have developed a program that will see the boxers peak by the time they reach the world championships and the SEA Games.”
Abap will bring six to seven boxers to the world championships and 10 to the SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia on Nov. 11 to 25.
Picson said Abap has brought in a conditioning coach, nutritionist and sports psychologist to complement the 12-man coaching staff headed by Pat Gaspi.
“Our coaches have been religiously observing other international competitions to learn new techniques,” said Picson, who also invited foreign coaches for technology transfer.
Out of the 42 boxers in the national pool, six form the super elite—Mark Anthony Barriga, Victorio and Rey Saludar, Charly Suarez and women boxers Nesty Petecio and Alice Kate Aparri—has been receiving specialized training under coach Roel Velasco.
