Athletics, the perennial gold medal machine of the country in the Southeast Asian Games, is aiming for a high of nine and a low of seven gold medals in the coming SEAG in Indonesia.
The Games’ centerpiece event will be held in Palembang, the capital of Southern Java, the major competition site of the biennial event set Nov. 11 to 24.
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok said he is pinning his hopes on several newcomers from the 20-man training pool.
Go refused to name the athletes but said the performances of at least two of them are within gold medal target.
“They are my surprise package,” he said.
They are housed and fed by the Patafa pending their selection as national athletes by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Two years ago in Laos, the PH tracksters went home with seven golds, three silvers and four bronzes to place fourth overall in athletics.