PH shooters ramp up preparations ahead of Olympic qualifier

PH shooter Amparo Acuña.–Photo from Amparo Acuña Facebook

MANILA, Philippines–Franchette Shayne Quiroz and Amparo Acuna are heading to Germany next month for a pivotal sequence in their Olympic qualification buildup.

Both female shooters should be on top of their game in the 2024 ISSF World Olympic Qualification Tournament for rifle and pistol in Rio de Janeiro on April 11-19.

Quiroz is bidding to wear the national colors in the women’s 10-meter and 25-meter air pistol events in the coming Paris Olympics while Acuna has trained her sights for a spot in the women’s 10-meter air rifle.

“This is an important phase in our preparation for the world qualification tournament. We should not lose focus,” said Quiroz, who wiped out two national records in the Asian Shooting Championships held in Jakarta, Indonesia recently.

Quiroz missed the top two spots in the Jakarta continental qualifier that could have sealed her a Paris stint, but saw her Olympic rankings rise.

The 27-year-old climbed to No. 8 in the world rankings and No. 70 in the Olympic qualification placings in the 25m air pistol while jumping to No. 80 in the 10m air pistol Olympic rankings from No. 157 prior to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year. Quiroz is now ranked 12th in the world in the 10m.

“Based on the rankings, we think we have a high chance. Those above me have already earned their quota places,” said Quiroz during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.

Acuna, 26, likewise fell short of seizing an Olympic berth outright in the Jakarta continental shootfest last month.

“We must keep on trying because if the top two finishers in each event in the remaining qualifiers have already clinched the quota, it passes on to the other top finishers,” said Acuna.

Similar to the Asian champs, the Rio De Janeiro world Olympic qualifier will reward the top two finishers in their events a sure trip to the glitzy French capital.

“We’ve been trying to join all the qualifying events,” said Philippine National Shooting Association secretary general Iryne Garcia during the weekly forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Smart/PLDT and Arena Plus.

According to Garcia, PNSA president and Rep. Mike Dy is fully supportive that Quiroz and Acuna could make it to Paris along with 2020 Tokyo Olympian Jayson Valdez, Enrique Enriquez, Hagen Topacio and 2012 London Olympian Bryan Rosario.