HANOI, Vietnam — Philippine Chief of Mission Julian Camacho remains optimistic the Philippines will surpass the one gold medal delivered by muay thai if its athletes arrive in time for their matches in the Asian Indoor Games here.

“I am confident they can do it because our athletes are upbeat and physically and mentally prepared in their quest for the precious medals,” said Camacho at the lobby of Daewoo Hotel where the Philippine secretariat is billeted along with 43 other countries in the third edition of the biennial meet.

“We are also strong in muay but our problem right now is that our athletes who are scheduled to arrive Sunday are still in Manila because of the typhoon,” noted Camacho, the wushu secretary-general. “Hope they will arrive on Sunday (today).”

“I tried calling muay thai official Red Dumuk to no avail. I don’t know if they will come or not,” Camacho said.

Jay Harold Gregorio, Zaid Laruan and Maricel Subang are supposed to lead the country’s charge in muaythai.

Camacho is also pinning his hope on bowling, chess, boxing and wushu which he believed the country is traditionally strong with the presence of battled-tested athletes.

“We are strong in these sports because our athletes are veteran internationalists. Hopefully, our athletes would live up to expectation,” said Camacho, the Chief of Mission in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games also held in Vietnam.

Camacho exudes optimism that the two wushu athletes will create big surprises in their respective events.

“Malakas ang loob at matapang yung dalawang entries natin. I wouldn’t be surprised if they create ripples in their respective events,” said Camacho, referring to Jennifer Lagilag and Rhea Mae Rifane.

Lagilag competes in 48 kilograms and Rifane in 65 kilograms in wushu which features athletes from more than 10 countries.

The Philippines Sports Commission
chaired by Harry Angping bankrolled the participation of boxing, muay thai, chess and bowling in the 45-nation sports conclave.

The bowlers will be led by newly-crowned Jakarta Open champion Engelbert Rivera, Constantine Chester King, Raoul Miranda, and Jonas Jason Baltazar, while Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Mark Paragua, and women players Catherine Perena and Shercila Cua will make up the chess team.

Camacho, however, refused to comment regarding the chances of swimmer Miguel Molina.

“Molina faces rough sailing because of the toughness of competition. Sana manalo siya. Let’s pray for his success,” he said.