Equal opportunities for women athletes, an option to improve regional PHL performance — POC official

Gender equality, individual sports, more structured sports programs are issues that could help Philippine athletes gain international prominence.

These are issues sports officials have to tackle as part of efforts to improve the performance of athletes in the 2018 Asian Games and to prepare to host the SEA Games next year.

With Philippine delegation to the 2018 Asiad, composed of 272 athletes, there are more women athletes than men athletes who are successful in their bid in the ongoing regional meet.

"This is one of the biggest delegation in the recent years and we are happy that the path and road to 50/50 is almost realized (that is) gender representation of men and women athletes," Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Deputy Secretary General, told GMA News Online.

Out of the 20 members of the Philippine delegation who are bringing home medals 13 are women.

"Imagine if we give equal opportunities for women athletes to perform mas maganda chances," she added.

Basketball has been a favorite of Filipinos but officials are also looking other type of sports.

"The issue aside from gender equality is identifying the sports where we have medals potentials and what we are good at and how the POC and the government, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), can support these athletes," she said.

"We need a structured program from grassroots to elite to be cohesive," she added.

There has also been adequate support for the delegation.

"May support naman from PSC and now through POC through the leadership of Ricky Vargas, nag re respond na ng support ang private sectors," she said.

Tanchanco-Caballero also pointed out that "we noticed we have better medal potentials to individual sports rather than team sports."

"And, realistically mas ok pa pondohan kasi budget wise, mas practical," she said.

As of posting, the Philippine team is ranked 17 with four gold medals and 13 bronze medals in the ongoing Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games 2018.

"Sa amin we aim to improve our medal standing sa region. And we are learning a lot sa campaign na ito. Things we Can pick up for SEA Games 2019 hosting," Tanchanco-Caballero said. — BAP, GMA News