FORMER Philippine National Shooting Association president Luis “Chavit” Singson urged said that only deserving shooters should be sent to represent the country in major international competition.
In a press conference at his Quezon City residence, Singson made the appeal in the wake of the performance of trap shooter Joaquin Ancheta, who failed to finish his event in the ISSF Lonato Cup in Lonato del Garda, Italy last July.
Ancheta, who also had two DNFs (Did Not Finish) stints in the monthly qualifiers organized by the Philippine National Shooting Association, was listed as a “Category A” athlete by the PNSA for the Guangzhou Asian Games kicking off on Sept. 23 in Guangzhou, China.
This meant that Ancheta, who finished dead last among 196 entries in the elite ISSF competition, would be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission should his Asian Games outing push through.
“Tingnan ninyo ito para hindi tayo kahiya-hiya. Kasi uulit-ulitin lang kung hindi tayo magsasalita,” said Singson, who represented the country in the past Malaysia Merdeka Games, winning two gold medals in the meet that was then at par with the Southeast Asian Games.
“Sino ang dapat managot diyan. Sino ang nag-approve?” said Singson, often regarded as the godfather of shooting, who asked the Philippine Olympic Committee to conduct an inquiry on the issue since it is the POC that accredits athletes and officials to the continental sports showcase.
The accreditation is based on the endorsement of the National Sports Association that is either signed by the NSA president or the secretary general. The PNSA president is Isabela Rep. Mike Dy, who is the chairman of the House Youth and Sports Committee, while Iryne Garcia is the sec-gen.
“Dapat imbestigahan ito ng POC, kung hindi Senate or Congress. That is why we are appealing to the media to make this development known. If the POC says it is an internal matter, mali ‘yun,” Singson underscored. “There should be accountability and transparency. Kailangan idisiplina nila kung sino man ang nagpadala ng unqualified shooters.
“Definitely,” he added, “it would never have happened during my time as PNSA president.”
Former national shooter Raul Arambulo, who was also in the same briefing, noted that “kung papayagan nila na mangyari ito sa shooting, baka bukas makalawa ay mangyari din sa ibang isports.
“Papaano pa mag-aambisyon ‘yung mga ibang shooters na mag-Olympics kung ‘yung mga hindi nag-qualify ay nakasasama sa international competition, tapos ‘yung mga nag-qualify, hindi? ‘Yung lang gusto nila ang papuntahin?’
A veteran of the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, Arambulo pointed out that “shooting is a measurable sport,” adding: “You can compare the scores of our shooters with those abroad and know through the qualifiers if you have a chance to win or not. Let’s follow the scores and let them do the talking.”
He mentioned promising young air pistol shooter Carlo Valdez, who tied the 27-year-old national mark in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event of 584 out in the PNSA national eliminations last Sept. 3 and had consistently topped the monthly tryouts.
Valdez, however, has not been included in the Asiad-bound national team.
Arambulo also pointed out that Valdez, 22, finished sixth in the finals of the ISSF Asian Cup Pistol/Rifle competition last March in Jakarta, Indonesia with a score of 273.
“This is why I might stop my grandson, Asher Antonio, from pursuing his Olympic dream because it my happen under this environment.”
