By Jean Malanum
MANILA – John Deryck Diego and Jay Ann Balwit will banner the country’s campaign in the U19 Asian Sepak Takraw Championships on Nov. 26 to 30 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Diego, 17, baggef bronze in the rings event at the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December last year; while Balwit, 16, took the doubles silver at the Palarong Pambansa in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur last May.
“Kaya po namin mag-podium finish dahil sa hard training namin na kasama na ang physical, mental at emotional (We were able to achieve a podium finish because of our rigorous training, which encompassed physical, mental and emotional aspects),” Diego said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission media center, also in Manila.
“Hindi naman po kami pupunta dito kung hindi namin kakayanin mag-medal. Confident naman po tayo (We wouldn’t be here if we couldn’t medal. We are confident). We will try to do our best,” Balwit added.
They were accompanied by Philippine Sepak Takraw Association, Inc. president Karen Caballero, whose players brought home a silver and bronze in women’s doubles and regu, respectively, from the recent Nagoya Asian Games.
“We chose 15 boys and 15 girls who have been training last September at the Bulacan Sports Complex under our veteran national coaches,” Caballero said.
Up for grabs will be gold medals in the boys’ and girls’ regu, boys’ doubles, and boys’ and girls’ quadrant events.
Close to 300 players from14 countries — Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Iraq, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Iran, Nepal and Oman — will join the Philippines in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and sanctioned by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation.
“We were surprised that some countries are going with a lot of extra officials who want to visit the Philippines,” Caballero noted, adding that they were organizing tours in Intramuros for the delegates. (PNA)
