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After a lengthy absence from the Southeast Asian Games, the sport of triathlon will be making its return to the multi-discipline event this year and that should give the Philippines plenty of reason to be upbeat in the upcoming biennial meet to be held in Singapore beginning June 5.
“I think as far as our chances are concerned, we’re llamado,” Tom Carrasco, head of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, told InterAksyon.com in a telephone interview.
“If we deliver a gold medal, this will be big for the triathlon community. We didn’t have participation in the 2009, 2011, and 2013 SEA Games and this will be our comeback.”
The last time Filipino triathletes saw action in the SEA Games, the bets produced one gold, two silvers and four bronzes across four categories in Thailand.
TRAP is only sending four athletes to represent the country in the triathlon event – Maria Claire Adorna, Kim Mangrobang, Nico Huelgas and Jonard Saim – but Carrasco is upbeat this year’s batch can surpass that feat.
“I think we can win two gold medals,” predicted Carrasco. “As far as training is concerned, I think we’re ahead of our SEA Games rivals. These are the most well-prepared athletes we’re sending for triathlon in the SEA Games.”
Carrasco likes the chances of Mangrobang and Huelgas, who underwent high-performance training in Portugal in preparation for the games.
Adorna, cited as one of the bets swimmers by the Philippine Sportswriters Association last year, will be trying her hand in the discipline as well. She placed a strong third in the Asian Triathlon event last year.
After the SEA Games, the triathletes will go straight to Taipei to participate in the Asian Triathlon.
Source: Rey Joble of Interaksyon.com
