PATAFA optimistic over Asian campaign

PATAFA optimistic over Asian campaign | Daily Tribune

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) expects its top athletes to deliver when they compete in the 26th Asian Athletics Championships from 27 to 31 May in Gumi, South Korea.

PATAFA secretary general Jasper Tanhueco said they expect their best athletes to break their respective record, way above from their performances in the recent Philippine Athletics Championships.

The Philippines will be one of the 45 Asian countries that will compete in the prestigious continental event.

Asia’s finest athletes will be around like youthful Japanese sprinters Hiroki Yanagita and Towa Uzawa, who will defend the titles they won in the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter events of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023.

With the high level of competition, Tanhueco believes that the Filipinos will refuse to get outshone.

“The expectation from the Philippine Team for the Asian Championships is to deliver stronger performance than they did at the Philippine Championships since the level of competition there will be higher and the athletes will be pushed further,” Tanhueco said in an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE.

“We’re also expecting strong results from our Olympians who are hoping to secure qualifications for the World Championships.”

Tipped to make heads turn will be Ernest John Obiena and Robyn Brown, who are set to defend their gold medals in the men’s pole vault and women’s 400-meter hurdles, respectively.

Filipino-foreign hurdlers John Cabang and Lauren Hoffman, who represented the country in the Paris Olympics last year, are also expected to make their presence felt as they shoot for slots in the World Championships that will be held in Tokyo from 13 to 25 September.

Still, Tanhueco asserts that Filipino athletes should not push themselves too hard so they will be in top shape when they see action in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games from 9 to 20 December in Thailand.

“Most importantly, we hope the entire team stays safe and injury-free throughout the event,” Tanhueco said.