PANGILINAN CALLS FOR HARD LOOK AT AMATEUR BOXING PROGRAM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 07 Feb 2008
Businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan, who has bankrolled the Philippines quest for a coveted gold medal in boxing in the Olympic Games, has called for a ?long, hard look? at the entire amateur boxing program following the recent debacle in the AIBA Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Bangkok.
In an official statement, Panglinan, who reportedly approved a P18 million budget submitted by Amateur Boxing Association president Manny Lopez for the buildup to the Olympic Games, said there is a need to look into ?our recruitment of talented youngsters which must come from all over the country.?
The eminent sports patron said the ABAP needed to adopt ?appropriate training methods and engage coaches who would not only raise the level of our fighters? skills but also motivate them to achieve new heights of competitive excellence? adding that the Philippines should be able to qualify eight boxers for the Olympics just like Thailand did.
While the Philippines has so far qualified only veteran Harry Tanamor for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a result of his silver medal performance at the last World Championships in Chicago, Thailand won five berths in Chicago and three more in Bangkok.
In an earlier meeting prior to the Bangkok qualifiers with Lopez, Pangilinan and his key executives headed by former PBA chairman Ricky Vargas made it clear that the thrust should be to start right now in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.
Pangilinan said ?I am sure all of us are disappointed over the failure to get more of our boxers to join Tanamor in qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games? but added that he was ?also certain the boxers themselves are disappointed? along with the coach staff and ABAP president Manny Lopez.
However, the ?godfather? of several sports including basketball, badminton, billiards and taekwondo among others said he was ?convinced that we have the talent and depth? as evidenced in the professional ranks through such remarkable fighters as Manny Pacquiao, Gerry Penalosa, Nonito Donaire and Florante Condes, all world champions.
Pangilinan concluded ?we need to discover their equivalent in the amateur ranks. It is imperative we begin the search now, not later.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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