MANILA, 25 July 2003 — Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Go Teng Kok, who survived an ambush at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last week, has indicated he will pursue his campaign for a slot in the powerful 15-man International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Board and even hinted at attending the voting in Paris this August.

Go is still recovering after suffering gunshot wounds in the face during the ambush. A slug was removed near the base of his brain. Using a notepad, Go scribbled that he’ll go ahead with his plan to vie for a seat in the IAAF board when it convenes next month in Paris, site of the World Athletics Championships. With the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) fully backing his bid, Go, 58, has a good chance of winning one of 27 seats up for grabs in the IAAF council although there are 54 candidates expected to vie for the seats.

Racing Sales Reach P3.4b in First Pemester

The local horse-racing industry is once again on the verge of another banner year as total sales on regulated (horse race) wagering has already reached 3.4-billion pesos for the first six months of the year.

Philracom chairman Jaime A. Dilag made the announcement even as he expressed optimism that the industry’s total sales for the whole year can easily breach the 7 million pesos mark and improve on the previous year’s record gross of 6.79 billion pesos. This year’s first semester sales of 3.4 billion pesos signaled an increase of more than 220 million pesos compared to last year’s sales and is expected to further rise by the latter of the year, the traditional highpoint of the local horse racing calendar. “We are confident that we would be able to sustain the industry’s steady growth this year by coming up with more programs and policy initiatives that would promote and increase public confidence in the conduct of the sport,” said Dilag.

Paragua Denied GM Title, Paris Open Title

International Master Mark Paragua drew his final game with Iran-born IM Amir Bagheri to shine in the 2003 Paris Open despite missing a chance for the possible second Grand Master result and coming up half a point short for the title.

With 6.5 points, the 19-year-old Paragua shared second to eighth places in the tournament with IM Todor Todorov of Bulgaria, GM Stanislav Savchenko of Ukraine, GM Andrei Shcekachev of Russia, IM Thal Abergel and GM Manuel Apicella of France and Bagheri with his five wins, three draws and one loss tally. IM Bagheri and IM Paragua settled for a truce after their Torre Attack game. Top Luxembourg player GM Alberto David topped the 69-man field FIDE Open tournament with seven points. Tied for 22nd to 28th place is another Filipino entry in IM-elect Joseph Sanchez, who had five points. The Paris meet is only the start of a European trip for Paragua, Sanchez and Dableo, who are all part of the RP team to the Vietnam SEAG where chess will be held as a medal event for the first time.

PSC Wants Kids to Start Early

Inspired by enthusiasm by schoolchildren from K.I.D.S on their trip to different sports facilities and venues at the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex recently, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has launched a new campaign that aims to make RMSC and other PSC-maintained facilities a haven for recreation and entertainment. The campaign, known as ‘An Athlete for a Day’ program, intends to attract schoolchildren, both from public and private schools, to schedule a visit to RMSC and meet the country’s outstanding athletes as they train inside the different venues.

Chess Gets New Money From Mike

First Gentleman Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo recently awarded a check representing initial assistance to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

NCFP secretary general Sammy Estimo said this is in connection with the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the First Gentleman Foundation Inc. and the NCFP.

The First Gentleman Foundation Inc. pledged to extend assistance to the NCFP by providing financial assistance in the training expenses of the National Team to the Southeast Asian Games slated in December in Vietnam. This would also include securing training venues and chess paraphernalia and equipment that would be instrumental in honing the skills of budding Filipino chess sensations.

SEA Games Technical Committee Approve 397 Entries

The Southeast Asian Games technical commission has approved the entry of 397 athletes to the RP team for the 2003 SEAG after reviewing the records of the 28 national sports associations seeking to send bets to Vietnam. The list is actually smaller than the 422-strong team the joint Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)-Philippine Sports Commission screening body had earlier given the go-signal.

Tac Still Top Gun in Pistol Shoot Elims

Multititled Nathaniel ‘Tac’ Padilla maintained his supremacy in pistol shooting by ruling the standard and center fire events in the ongoing National Open championships at the PSC range in Fort Bonifacio.

The 38-year-old general manager of Spring Cooking Oil fired 568 points to beat brother Donald (531) and Carolino Gonzales (515) in standard pistol, and then carded 578 points to rout Gilbert Escobar (556) and Donald (546) in the center fire competition. “I’m slowly getting back into top form despite my heavy work schedule,” Tac Padilla said. “Hopefully, I would be in tip-top shape for the Southeast Asian Games (in Vietnam) this December.”