Patafa to send self-funded team to Asian meet
The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) will be sending a delegation to the 18th Asian Athletics Championships set on Nov. 10-14 in Guangzhou, China even without the support of the Philippine Sports Commission. Patafa president Go Teng Kok said that it will be a shame for the country if it could not send a delegation since the Philippines is âa member in good standing and has a rich tradition" in the tournament. The PSC under chairman Harry Angping has turned down the request of Patafa to field in a 17-man contingent, reiterating his earlier his stand against sending Southeast Asian Games-bound athletes to foreign competitions so close to the December SEAG in Laos. âWe will send six athletes to the Championships. The Patafa will be shouldering the athletesâ airfare because it is not proper if the country skips the event, being a member in good standing and one of the driving force in the creation of the event," explained Go. The Philippines was the site of the inaugural Asian Athletics Championships in 1973, holding it at the Marikina Sports Center. The country hosted the event two more times in 1993 and 2003. Tapped to carry the countryâs cudgels in the 2009 Asian Championships are Olympian Marestella Torres, Julius Nierras, Rene Herrera, Danilo Fresnido, Michael Embuedo and Josie Villarito.