WAP, tutuklas pa ng dagdag na wrestlers

Kasunod ng kanilang tagumpay sa nagdaang 30th Southeast Asian Games, pipilitin pa ng Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) na makatuklas ng mas marami pang world-class athletes na maaaring kumatawan sa bansa sa Olympics at iba pang international competitions. Sinabi ni WAP president Alvin Aguilar, ang Pinoy wrestlers tulad ng iba pang Asian wrestlers, ay may taglay na talento sa sikat na Olympic sport. “We are very confident that we have the talents to make it all the way to the Tokyo Olympics,” ayon kay Aguilar sa 54th “Usapang Sports” ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) kahapon sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Manila. Aniya, idaraos sa bansa ang apat na major international wrestling competitions upang matulungan ang Pinoy talent na mahasa pa ang husay bilang paghahanda sa nalalapit na Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. “It’s about time we have another Filipino wrestler in the Olympics. If I remember it right, the last time nagkaroon tayo ng Filipino wrestler sa Olympics was in the 1980's pa,” paliwanag ni Aguilar, na sinamahan sa forum ni jiu-jitsu champion May Masuda at SEA Games gold medalists Jason Baucas at Noel Norada.

Ang apat na WAP-hosted events ay ang Nationals 2020 sa Marso 7-8 sa Festival Mall sa Alabang; ang unang Asian Grappling Championships sa Abril 2-5; ang Asian Championships Under-23 sa Hulyo at Southeast Asia Championships sa Nobyembre. “After the SEA Games, madami tayong activities. We have the WAP Nationals 2020 at Festival Mall. This is the first time na isama-sama lahat ng events under wrestling – freestyle, Greco-Roman, women, grappling, kurash and others,” dagdag pa ni Aguilar sa weekly public service sports program ng Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR at Community Basketball Association.

“Sa Asian Grappling, more than 30 countries are participating. Sa Under-23 naman, parang ito na yung world championships dahil sasali ‘yun mga talagang magagaling. We’re very happy that they chose the Philippines to host these events dahil maganda naman tayo magpatakbo ng mga tournaments. We’re very hospitable at fair tayo. Sa grappling, wala naman tumatalo sa atin sa Asia, so we’re going to get the overall championship. Saka ito yung first time na makasali tayo sa lahat ng events dahil dito nga sa ating gagawin.”