In a historic first, Filipino surfers competing in the Asian Surfing Championships in Tamil Nadu, India, were able to secure two quota slots each in the men’s and women’s shortboard events of the 20th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, next year.
United Surfing Association of the Philippines president Raul Canlas said the men’s team of Neil Sanchez, Eduardo Alciso and Toby Espejon and the women’s squad of Vea Estrellado, Dianne Nogale and Nilbie Blancada performed well enough to secure the Nagoya tickets at the end of the meet that served as the last qualifier for the Asian Games.
This will mark the first time that the demanding water sport will make its debut in in quadrennial continental sports showcase.
In the men’s Open, Pinoy bets tallied 1,665 points as Sanchez and Alciso reached the semifinals of the weeklong series while Espejon emerged as a quarterfinalist.
The women’s squad tallied 1,426 points, with Estrellado Dianne Nogalo advancing to the quarterfinals and Blancada making it as far as the third round.
USAP secretary general Gino Canlas, the son of the USAP president and noted orthopedic surgeon, said that securing the slots for the country did not mean that the eight athletes had the inside track in representing the country at the Games.
“We will still have qualifying meets through our USAP National Tour to decide who will be our surfers to Nagoya,” the younger Canlas said.
