PH-China sports relations also strained

MANILA—The territorial dispute in the Kalayaan Islands between the country and China has also affected the sports relationship between the two nations.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Ritchie Garcia yesterday said the volatile situation has stalled the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the government sports agency and the Chinese embassy.

Under the MOU, top Filipino fencers and weightlifters athletes will be allowed to train in China and boost their quest for medals in the 2012 London Olympics.

Athletes from shooting, table tennis, wushu and diving have also been scheduled to receive foreign training in top-notch facilities in the world’s most powerful nation in sports.

“We’re just waiting for the result of the dispute,” said Garcia.