Questions have been raised on the composition of the Philippine national shooting team, particularly on the inclusion of skeet shooter Joaquin Ancheta in the contingent headed for the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games.
Philippine National Shooting Association chairman emeritus and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson is asking concerned officials to look into the matter, with the national delegation for shooting set to leave for China on Thursday next week.
Singson said this after hearing the complaint of parent and former Asian Games’ campaigner Raoul Arambulo, who visited his Corinthian Gardens home on Thursday.
Arambulo, a member of the skeet and trap shooting aggrupation, believes that Ancheta should not be going to the Asiad as he did not finish in the two elimination tournaments organized by the PNSA and also did not continue competing during the ISSF Lonato Cup, an Olympic qualifying event in Lonato del Garda, Italy.
“Naba-bother kami kasi dahil magpapadala sila ng hindi qualified. Nakakahiya tayo kapag kulelat ang ipapadala,” said Singson.
The PNSA is sending a nine-member squad to the Asiad, including Amparo Acuna (rifle), Franchette Quiroz (pistol), and Elvie Baldovino (pistol) in the women’s division, along with shotgun shooters Hagen Topacio, Brian Topacio and Enrique Enriquez in the men’s side.
Olympian Jayson Valdez is also coming. Other shotgun shooters include Ito Carag, Eric Ang and Ancheta.
Majority of the contingent will be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission, which reviewed a list submitted by PNSA secretary general Iryne Garcia.
“OK naman kung qualified, kahit minalas lang sa mga international meet. May qualification ‘yan eh,” added Singson.
Arambulo’s group, the Moving Target Association, also questioned the non-inclusion of young air pistol shooter Carlo Valdez, who tied a 27-year-old national record in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event of the PNSA monthly eliminations recently at the Philippine Marine Corps shooting range in Taguig City.
PNSA officials argued that Valdez made qualification after the cutoff period.
The 22-year-old Valdez matched an old national standard (584) set in September 3, 1996 at the same range by Filipino-American Jomike Gonzales.
Arambulo’s group is also following up on the situation surrounding the P1.93 million worth of clay targets that his associates bought on behalf of the PNSA, because it has reportedly been “missing.”
They are also seeking answers what happened to the two 20-foot containers vans containing the LaPorte clay targets, stored at the PSC shooting range inside the Bureau of Corrections property in Muntinlupa.