THE search for qualifying points and slots for the 2024 Paris Olympics continues immediately for two of the country’s top female shooters, Amparo Acuna and Franchette Quiroz.
Acuna and Quiroz will now head for the 15th Asian Shooting Championship 2023 in two weeks following their satisfying trip and stint in the 19th Asian Games in Huangzhou, China.
Both will now prepare for the competitions slated from October 22 to November 2 in Changwon, Korea.
The top shooters from across Asia compete in the many events for two weeks and with two slots offered in 12 events.
“Our Asian rankings should improve with our with our participation in the Asian Games. This helped us (Asian Games),” said Acuna, who is coached by Julius Valdez.
Acuna came near a national record again when she hit 578 points in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women’s Qualifications last week during the Asiad.
This was five points short of the 583 points she Acuna set last June during the final leg of the Asian Games Qualifying season at the Philippine Marine Shooting Range in Taguig.
Following her stint in the Asiad, Acuna has moved up a notch up as she is now no. 152 in the Olympic qualification rankings (from 153) in the 50-meter rifle, 3-prone position.
But Acuna, who remained at no. 175 in the 10-meter air rifle event, is hopeful of earning Olympic qualification points with her showing.
Acuna came close to Philippine mark when she fired a total of 618 points in qualification round to finish at 42nd place in the women’s 10-meter rifle event.
The 26-year-old Quiroz, who has an Olympic ranking of 151, also came up with her best performance in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event in an international meet.
Quiroz’s 569-point showing came within range of the record-breaking 578 that she produced during the national training pool eliminations last July 16.
So far, she has already equaled the national mark of Susan Aguado last June 4 during the Asian Games Qualifying rounds.
“I was confident when I my event was finished. But I did not quickly get updated on the results of other shooters so I can adjust. But still, this is the best we can do,” said Quiroz.