Here’s what new PSC chair Richard Bachmann should lend his ears to.
Ju-jitsu, unknown to millions of Pinoy sports fans, had something up in its sleeve when Pinoy judokas queitly took part in the 19th Asian games in Hangzhoi, China.
Two unexpectedly won golds – courtesy of MEGGIE OCHOA and ANNE RAMIREZ while a third KAILA NAPOLIS handed in a bronze.
Ramirez and company are the reason POC President Bambiol Tolentino was elated and happy coming home (despite the ill-timed collection letter coming from the COA).
And yet, they were not the toast of Philippine media because sportswriters poured all their attention to Gilas basketball because it is the national sport in the country.
That is quite unfair, if you ask me.
Undoubtedly, jujitsu now is the most successful NSA coming out of the 2023 quadrennial sportsfest.
Because of this, Ramirez et al have asked the government agency to add more funding to their sport.
In published media interviews, she said: “Doon po sa resulta namin…sana maging eye opener sa ating gobyerno at sa private sector na sana bigyan nila ng pansin ang jujitsu.”
In so many words, Ramirez wants the PSC to lend more attention to her chosen field and not focus only on more popular events such as boxing, basketball, gymnastics and weightlifing.
I agree with Ramirez that in contact sports, Pinoy athletes have a fair chance of overcoming their opponents because they are measured in terms of weight and not in height or altitude.
I have seen our wrestlers, karate and taekwondo jins and judokas take part in international forums where
I obersved that, given the proper training and environment, Filipino nationals can square off anytime with anybody without fear.
Ramirez did not mention the huge difference that height does in basketball where there is no regard if one stands seven feet tall and weights 250 pounds.
But in martial arts where Ramirez intoned, the weight factor equalizes with the height.
I validate this assertion because I watched Pinoy karatekas battle their counterparts in my coverage of the World Karate Championships held in Sun City, South Africa in 1996.
What Pinoys lack in height, they make up in quickness, agility and speed which taller opponents usually do not possess.
Of course, as later on discovered, Pinoy athletes terribly lacked adequate foreign exposure compared to their European counterparts who displayed advanced fighting techniques thatare the norms in various international jousts.
I hope PSC boss Bachmann and his board can come up with a development agenda centered not on infrastructure improvements and rehabilitation that cost the government billions but on improving the individual capabilities of Pinoy athletes.
Look at EJ Obiena. Had he not stayed in Europe and duelled with the best in pole vault, I doubt if he would have achieved what he had attained as the best in Asia and the number 2 in the world.
I pray what we are writing does not fall on deaf ears. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
