Athletes who stand out in the 25th Southeast Asian Games would be given intensive training to better prepare them for the 2010 Asian Games, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping said Thursday during the sendoff party for the Laos-bound athletes last Wednesday.

Speaking before some 180 athletes and sports officials from 17 national sports associations, Angping said that those who will come up with exceptional performances in the December 9 to 18 sports meet will be given an opportunity to undergo world-class training such as more international exposure and foreign coaches.

“We will not hesitate to send you out on a quarterly basis for international competitions,” said Angping, whose forward vision is an exceptional showing by the Philippines in the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China in August of next year.

“PSC will do everything within its power to make sure all athletes get proper attention to bring home gold from the Asian Games,” said Angping, who hosted the sendoff party.

Angping noted that only four gold medals were brought home from the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and the former Manila lawmaker wants it tripled in next year’s edition in Guangzhou.

Graced by a couple of celebrities, the affair was attended by high-ranking PSC officials and athletes and officials from archery, athletics, billiards and snooker, boxing, diving, judo, karatedo, Muay, pencak silat, petanque, sepak takraw, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

Missing were athletes from swimming, golf and water polo, badminton, cycling, beach volleyball, and table-tennis.

The Philippine delegation will leave for Laos on Sunday morning on two chartered flights 30 minutes from each other.