SINGAPORE — A top Philippine official has declared that 60 gold medals from the 28th Southeast Asian Games is an achievable target for the national contingent.
Chef de mission Julian Camacho told Singapore newspaper The New Paper the Philippines is capable of winning 60 gold medals due to the large contingent is has sent to the Games that is set to formally open on Friday.
The Philippines will have 464 athletes competing in the biennial showpiece - the third largest Philippine contingent in the history of the SEA Games, according to The New Paper.
“We have a big team this year and we want to do better than in Myanmar (two years ago),” Camacho told The New Paper’s Benjamin Lim during the delegation’s welcome ceremony at the Kallang Wave Mall on Tuesday.
“I believe we can bring home 60 gold medals this time.”
Before leaving for Singapore, Camacho said the country is capable of winning 50 golds this year, adding the Philippines is out to surpass its 29-gold medal output in Myanmar two years ago.
Camacho said he is banking on men’s basketball to dominate the SEA Games competition. He is also expecting archery and billiards to perform well.
Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph