Organizational mess up continued to hound the Philippines? participation in the 25th Southeast Asian Games going on in Laos.
One week after the entire cycling team was barred from taking part in the cycling competitions, now comes Fil-Japanese Tomohiko Hoshina who, too, was prohibited from taking part in the judo tournament which starts today at the Chao Annouvong gym in Vientiane. This, after the Laos SEA Games Organizing Committee found out that the Philippine passport of Hoshina will expire six months from now.
?He (Hoshina) didn?t tell us his passport is expiring in June,? an exaspirated Philippine Judo Federation president
Dave Carter told sportswriters upon learning of the decision not allowing Hoshina to compete. ?Sayang, he?s a cinch to win the gold medal in his division.?
Last week, upon arrival in Vientiane, the cycling squad sent to compete by the Philcycling group recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee was not allowed to race for lack of license issued by the International Cycling Union.
Even Marites Bitbit, who belongs to the faction headed by
Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino and, therefore, possesses a license, was barred after the POC had the team and pulled out in protest to the ruling.
Besides the problem on Hoshina?s passport, Carter also expressed concern on the officiating which he suspect might foil his team?s lofty goal of winning from three to four gold medals. Carter said reports reaching him were that the Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian judo officials have formed an alliance to fix the outcome of the matches.
Despite the organizers having invited neutral referees, Carter learned that the Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian arbiters would be assigned in the matches involving their respective countries.
?We?re bracing for the worst,? he said. ?This early, there?s already an alliance among referees from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. We really have to work extra hard to accomplish our goal,? he said, recalling that spotty officiating had always been the problem in previous editions of the biennial meet,
Reason why, he said, the Philippines could only manage a lonesome gold medal, courtesy of Baylon, in the previous Games two years ago in Thailand leaving the Filipinos with only one gold medal to show the last time in Thailand.
?We?re eyeing at least three to four gold medals. It was a modest and humble goal considering that John, Karen, Nancy and Gilbert have prepared hard and are in good shape before going here,? he said.
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