Ormoc City Rep. and fencing chief Richard Gomez is returning as the chef de mission of Team Philippines in the Asian Games, to be held in Hangzhou, China in September.
Gomez, who was also the head delegation of the PH contingent at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, on Thursday swapped positions with sports medicine specialist, Dr. Raul Canlas, who heads the national body for surfing.
Canlas will now take care of the national delegation being formed for the ANOC World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia.
“Nagpalit kasi kami ni Dr. Canlas. More athletes have qualified for surfing in the World Beach Games,” said Gomez during Thursday’s General Assembly of the Philippine Olympic Committee at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque.
From 410 athletes, Gomez will now screen a total of 426 names of entries for the quadrennial meet, slated from September 23 to October 8 later this year.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino said Canlas was concerned over the numbers athletes who could possibly qualify in surfing in the World Beach Games.
“Maraming puwedeng magka-qualify sa surfing, and besides, he is busy with his job as a doctor,” said Tolentino.
The 2023 World Beach Games is set from Aug. 5 to 12 in Bali.
Gomez is reviewing the number of submitted entries, including those who have won 58 gold medals and 85 silvers in the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The list includes Tokyo Olympic veterans Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and boxer Eumir Marcial, along with tennis star Alex Eala, athletes in softball, baseball, rugby, squash and archery.
When Gomez was the CDM in 2018, the Philippines secured four golds, 2 silvers and 15 bronze medals.
“We aim to duplicate or even surpass the performance of the last Asian Games,” said Gomez.
Canlas said two long board specialists Jay-R Esquivel and Aping Agudo, have intially qualified for the World Beach Games.
And he is expecting six more to make it.
