WITH longer preparation time and better training conditions, judo chief Ali Sulit is bullish about the chances of the country’s judokas in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games just slightly less than four months from now.
“Our preparations for the Vietnam SEA Games were difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic but now we have a longer preparation time and better training conditions. So, we definitely aim to surpass our performance in Vietnam,” Sulit said.
Despite the national team’s build-up being stymied by the virus crisis, Pinoy judokas managed to clinch two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in the Vietnam SEA Gamed last year.
The Philippine Judo Federation president noted that three of the Filipino silver medalists — Daryl John Mercado, John Viron Ferrer and Khrizzie Pabulayan Mamero — were against Vietnamese opponents and are likely to be back for the Cambodian Games.
“We certainly cannot do anything less than what we did in Vietnam. It is the only way to ago,” Ali stressed, adding one local athlete has even gone to Japan at his own expense in his bid to bring home the bacon.
“Let’s not name him right now but he really is bent on winning the gold in Cambodia,” he said.
He added that Filipino-Japanese campaigners and Tokyo Olympic Games veteran Kiyomi Watanabe and siblings Shugen and Keisei Nakano are also in the midst of training in Tokyo.
“Actually, there has been no let-up in training since the Vietnam SEA Games, including some of our national team members who are UAAP varsity members,” noted Ali, also the Ateneo judo coach.
He and PJF secretary general Dave Carter are planning to hold national tryouts just before the Cambodia Games so the association can field a truly competitive team to the regional meet set May 5 to 17 in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and northwestern city of Siem Reap.
“One thing that might be a game-changer in a good way is that we are planning to hold national tryouts. We are just determining the mechanics. Of course, it won’t be an issue if it is the same people who win. Kung iba ang manalo it might also be a good thing for us,” he explained.
“Based on the advice of Philippine Olympic Committee vice president Richard Gomez we should hold national team tryouts and I am open to it,” said Carter,” although I hope we still have time since it is February already.”
Carter said the national team might have one or two tune-up international meets, including the Asian Judo Open in Kuwait in late April.
