Fund woes hound 'lean' RP martial arts team

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will send a lean team of 42 athletes and 20 officials to the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok – a number likely to dwindle some more due to funding woes that continue to hound the delegation. According to chef de mission Dave Carter, they have already submitted the “entry by numbers" to the organizers of the April 25-May 3 event despite uncertainties on whether the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) would finance the team’s campaign. The team will require an estimated P5-million for its participation in eight events - judo, taekwondo, wushu, muay, pencak silat, kick boxing, kurash and jujitsu – in the said tournament, a qualifying event for the 1st World Martial Arts Games set in China next year. “As of now, we’re not sure regarding the funding of the delegation. Some NSAs (National Sports Associations) are asking the PSC for funding but from what I heard, only (the request of) wushu has been approved partially," said Carter, who’s also the president of the judo association. The RP roster has earlier been trimmed down after the Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) withdrew its karatekas. Other than financial difficulties, the PKF pulled out its bets to avoid a possible penalty from the World Karate Federation, which has warned its members against participating in the non-sanctioned tournament. Carter said the Asian Martial Arts Games campaign will also help the athletes of muay, wushu, judo, taekwondo and pencak silat hone up their skills and seek out slots to the RP team to the Laos Southeast Asian Games in December. “I hope the PSC will support us because this is a good opportunity for us to test our athletes since this is an Asian level competition," added Carter. Although the Philippines submitted entries numbering 42 athletes and 20 officials on Monday, Carter said he expects the number to go down when the team submits its final lineup to the organizers next month. So far, wushu has been assured of support from the PSC, according to Commissioner Fr. Vic Uy. The request of the muay association is up for deliberations by the PSC board Tuesday while the papers of judo, taekwondo and karatedo are still at the PSC’s NSA affairs department, yet to reach board level. –GMANews.TV