PSC bares list of athletes to get Olympic training in China

The first contingent of athletes who will train in China under the Olympic Medal Quest has been selected, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said on Friday. In a press statement, PSC chairman William Ramirez said the list is composed of 29 athletes and 10 coaches who will be part of a program that seek the Philippine's first Olympic medal in Beijing next year. Ramirez added that the Filipino athletes will train in Guangshou, a province in China which had the most athletes that won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics. "The first batch of the athletes and coaches will be leaving on May 28 as we have promised earlier and most of them will be staying in Guangzhou," Ramirez said. Athletes from diving, weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming, and fencing will undergo intensive training for six months in Guangzhou while the wushu team will train in Beijing. The diving contingent is composed of athletes Shiela Mae Perez, Nino Carog, Dhayna Lemay, Nicole Lemay, Jaime Asok, Rexel Ryan Fabriga, Kevin Kong, and Zardo Domenios. Their coaches are Rommel Kong, Lawrence Ifurong, Rodolfo Pahoyo, and Brian Pallatao. Also training in Guangzhou are weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and coach Ramon Solis; gymnasts Roel Ramirez, Raissa Saguisag, and Danica Calapatan with coaches Sonny and Normita Ty and Antonio Valenzuela; and swimmers Kendrick Uy, Gerard Bordado and Ernest Dee under coach Carlos Brosas. The fencing team is composed of Michelle Mancenido, Ma. Del Carmen Galvez, Michelle Bruzola, Mary Rose Alfonso, Bryant Cabantac, Bonifacio Jacintos, Ralph Ramos, and Harris Orendain with coach Walter Torres will also train in Guangzhou. The wushu squad is composed of Benjie Rivera, Eduard Folayang, Rhea May Rifani, Mary Rose Estimar, Willy Wang, and Janice Hung. Ramirez explained that the coaches were included in the contingent to ensure transfer of technology which the mentors can impart to other athletes after their training. "We want to make sure that other athletes will benefit from this program through the transfer of technology through our coaches who will be party of China training," Ramirez said. The program will be funded by the First Gentleman Foundation of Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who pledged to raise P250 million for the country's quest for elusive Olympic gold. The PSC also plans to send the Filipino taekwondo jins to Iran, shooters to Australia, rowers to Romania, archers to Egypt, and several swimmers in Los Angeles, California. Currently, long jumper Henry Dagmil and runner Ralph Soquillon are training for their Olympic campaign in University of California in Berkely, California. - GMANews.TV