THE PHILIPPINES will host the 2013 Southeast Asian Shooting Association (Seasa) Championships on the heels of the country’s impressive stint in the same tournament this year in Malaysia.
“We’ve been aspiring to host some major shooting events,” said Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) president Mikee Romero. “The last big event the Philippines hosted was in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, so it’s about time.”
The Philippines won over Myanmar and Thailand in the bidding to host the competition that gathers over 300 shooters from 15 countries.
“This is only the third time we won the bid, so we’re making sure that we’re well prepared,” PNSA vice president Gay Corral added during the PSA Forum presented by Smart, Pagcor and Shakey’s yesterday at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
Romero said the pistol, rifle and shotgun events are the competition’s regular categories but the PNSA may include practical shooting as a demonstration sport.
The good news came after veteran shooter Eric Ang ruled the men’s individual trap to lead the Philippines’ six-medal performance in the Seasa Championships in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, recently.
“I was really happy because it has been five years since I last won,” said Ang, the 41-year-old Beijing Olympics veteran.
Miguel Laperal bagged a silver in the junior trap, and the trio of Emerito Concepcion, Jayson Valdez and Celdon Arellano finished second in the men’s team air rifle.
Concepcion finished third in the individual air rifle, while Joelle Panganiban also won the bronze in individual trap and in the team event with Ylvana Dy and Monica Yang.