Young air pistol shooter Carlo Valdez met the qualifying standard for the Asian Games, but way after the cutoff period.
National coach Julius Valdez said this is the reason the 22-year-old Carlo, did not make the final cut to the national squad to the Asiad.
“Lampas at tapos na,” said the Valdez, a day after Philippine National Shooting Association chairman emeritus and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson raised questions on the composition of the national team.
Singson asked concerned officials to look into the matter, with the national delegation for shooting set to leave for China on Thursday next week.
Veteran shooter Raoul Arambulo’s group, the Moving Target Association, raised questions on the qualifications of some national shooters going to the Asiad, through Singson.
Valdez explained that they set the deadline on June 15, with Valdez hitting the qualifying scores on August 6 and 13.
The young shooter, however, will remain in the national pool and be part of the group for selection in other meets like the World Cup.
Valdez recently tied a 27-year-old national record in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event of the PNSA monthly eliminations, matching the old national standard (584) set in September 3, 1996 at the same range by Filipino-American Jomike Gonzales.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said it is too late to raise questions on the composition of the national delegation.
“You can’t just change the composition of the national team. Medyo late na tayo doon. And why only now, tapos na ang deadline,” said Tolentino.
The PNSA is sending a nine-member squad to the Asiad, led by Amparo Acuna (rifle), Franchette Quiroz (pistol), and Elvie Baldovino (pistol) in the women’s division, alongside shotgun shooters Hagen Topacio, Brian Topacio and Enrique Enriquez in the men’s side.
Olympian Jayson Valdez is also coming. Other shotgun shooters include Ito Carag, Eric Ang and Joaquin Ancheta. Peter Atencio