Shooter Eric Ang gets wildcard berth in Beijing Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino shooter Eric Ang earned a wildcard berth in the Beijing Olympics this December, according to statement released on Tuesday by Philippine Spors commissioner Joey Mundo, former secretary-general of the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA). "This is good news for the sport of shooting since Ang is the first shooter to make the Olympics after Jethro Dionisio in Athens," Mundo said in an interview. Ang got his wildcard berth after posting convincing performances in the trap events of two international competitions. Ang missed the qualifying mark for the Olympics by just a mark during the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait last year. And in the pre-Olympics shooting tournament in Beijing held last April 12-20, Ang placed only 24th among 92 participants. Ang will join other Filipinos who had already earned a ticket to the Beijing Olympics – swimmers Miguel Molina, Ryan Arabejo, JB Walsh, Daniel Coakley, and Cristel Simms; divers Shiela Mae Perez at Rexel Ryan Fabriga; taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Marie Antoinette Rivero; boxer Harry Tanamor; and archer Mark Javier. - GMANews.TV