Equestrian, women's basketball teams withdraw from Asian Games

The high cost of transporting the horses of three riders forced the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) to withdraw from the RP delegation bound for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) secretary general and RP Chef de Mission Joey Romasanta said EAP requested that the names of Toni Leviste, Joker Arroyo and Michael Angelo Oyson be withdrawn from the official list submitted to the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) last week. "Transportation of the horses from the Philippines to Guangzhou will cost EAP from $40,000 to $60,000 (roughly P1.7 to P2.5 million). This is aside from the cost needed for the three riders and their respective grooms, so the EAP decided to withdraw from the delegation," Romasanta said. Equestrian is one of the country’s medal hopefuls in the Guangzhou Asiad, with Leviste expected to lead the campaign after winning the Malaysian Open and the Dressage Champions League last August in Malaysia. "Financially impractical na magpadala tayo dahil masyadong mahal ang transport cost," said Romasanta, who added that EAP secretary-general Stephen Virata made the request. EAP president and POC head Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. supported Virata's decision. Aside from the equestrian riders, the women's basketball team was also dropped from the 249-strong RP delegation when it failed to submit an official document from FIBA Asia or GAGOC that would assure that the country won't be sanctioned should the female cagers fail to compete in the Guangzhou Asiad. The country's official delegation is now down to 233 athletes after women's marathon runner Jho-An Banayag was earlier dropped by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) for joining last month's CamSur Marathon. The number may even be reduced, since the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) is still trying to look for the replacement of Nicole Malapitan, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during her training. - JVP, GMANews.TV