TWO JAPANESE Olympians banner a cast of elite racers vying for the title in the 2013 Asian Triathlon Championship on April 27 to 29 at Subic Bay in Zambales.
But London Olympians Hirokatsu Tayama (world No. 27) and Mariko Adachi (world No. 29), the two highest ranked racers in the swim-bike-run event, also face tough competition in Yuka Sato (No. 33), Yuichi Hosoda (No. 49), Ryosuki Yamamoto (No. 67) and Faiquan Adachi.
“The presence of these Olympians and world-ranked triathletes makes this year’s event one of the most prestigious in terms of quality of participation,” Red Dumuk, vice president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, said in the Scoop sa Kamayan session Friday.
Over a thousand triathletes have signed up for the event, including 188 who will compete in the men and women’s elite divisions.
Also slated in the three-day event are competitions for the under-23, age-groups and the differently abled.
Dumuk said the race, which drew participants from 22 countries, already got clearance from International Triathlon Union designate technical delegate Qin Jianqui.
The Philippines will host the event for the third time in 16 years.
“The fact that our 1997 [hosting] was adjudged the best ever organized championship then, helped in ITU’s favorable action,” said Dumuk. “We last hosted it in 2004, and although it was similarly successful, the 1997 hosting became the barometer of the succeeding meets.” Jasmine W. Payo