Japanese Jumpei Furuya, 2018 Asian Games triathlon gold medalist, banners a large field of foreign hopefuls vying for qualifying points in the 2019 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Asian Cup set on April 27 and 28.
Furuya, currently ranked no. 43 in the world and champion of last January’s NTT ASTC Asian Cup event in Rayong, Thailand, will be backstopped by 13 other Japanese triathletes.
Poised to crowd out the Japanese are China’s sextet and Hong Kong’s large contingent–33 entries spread over the Elite, Junior and Super Sprint Distance Categories.
Supported by Philippine Sports Commission, NTT, Philippine Olympic Committee, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines and Pocari Sweat, SUBIT lured over a hundred foreign entries.
Chinese Taipei had entered 18, Korea 16, Macao 10, Singapore nine, Syria six and Thailand four.
Not to be discounted in the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run Elite competition are both the pair of Australians and Palestinians and a sole Canadian.
According to Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president, John Chicano will spearhead the Philippine challenge along with Kim Remolino even as Filipino-Spanish Fer Caseres is seen to spring a surprise in his quest for a slot in the Team Philippines for the SEA Games in December.
In the distaff side, 2017 SEA Games medalist Claire Adorna, Asia Games veteran Kim Kilgroe and fast rising JC Abad are the country’s
Overall, close to 800 foreigners and locals will see action in the annual event organized by the TRAP in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department.
For more information, visit Triathlon.org.ph or send email at trapsecretariat@gmail.com.