Filipino medalists from last year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will vie in a preevent competition for the Asian Games next month in Palembang, Indonesia.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) Secretary-General Reynato Unso said that they will send a competitive team composed of medalists from the Malaysia 29th SEA Games last August.
According to Unso, the test event would allow them to scour their opponents for next year’s 30th SEA Games, which the country is hosting.
“We want to have as many exposures as possible. Training is not enough to prepare them for the Asian Games or the SEA Games. We need tournaments,” Unso said.
Athletics is among the nine sports that will be played in the February 10 to 18 event. Also on the program are archery, basketball, boxing, football, weightlifting, indoor volleyball, taekwondo and pencak silat.
SEA Games champion Aries Toledo of decathlon heads the cast, along with men’s triple jump silver medalist Mark Harry Diones and long jump bronze medalists Janry Ubas and Marestella Torres-Sunang.
Although invitations were sent to 400-meter hurdles champion Eric Cray and double gold medalist Trenten Beram, their availability is still in the air as they are based in the US.
Indonesia organized the test events to showcase its readiness to host the Asian Games set from August 18 to September 2.
To bolster its preparations for the Asiad, the Patafa also tapped renowned track and field Coach Dan Ptaff, who is conducting a two-week Ayala-Dan Ptaff Advance Coaching Course at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City. Fifty national coach and athletes are attending the seminar, which tackles scientific training for athletics.
Ptaff has produced Olympic medallist and record holders from the US and United Kingdom.