DUMAGUETE CITY — The World Archery Philippines (WAP) is confident that it can assemble a team capable of winning medals in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

WAP secretary-general Dondon Sombrio, who oversaw the Philippine Archery Cup Leg 1 at the Freedom Park Grounds in Dumaguete City, said the sport's national governing body is putting together a 16-man team for the biennial games to be held in August.

“The standard for the games is 4 for every category. Sa compound, 4 na lalaki at 4 na babae, then sa recurve 4 na lalaki at 4 na babae,” said Sombrio, a member of the men’s archery compound team that won gold in the 2011 SEA Games.

Sombrio said that whoever makes the list after the qualifiers in Dumaguete will undergo a 4-week training camp either in South Korea or the US.

“Then by June before the SEA Games, lalaro sila sa isang competition sa USA,” he said. “That will be the final preparation for the SEA Games.”

Sombrio said they have been staging the Philippine Archery Cup series in different parts of the country as part of a grassroots program.

“So buong Pilipinas talaga iniikot natin para makakita ng mga bata na ma-develop natin. Kasi in the previous years iyong larong archery palaging sa Metro Manila lang,” he explained.

“Kawawa iyong archers from the provinces na walang pera papunta dun. So kami na nagpupunta dun para they'd have the chance to play with the elite.”

The Philippine Archery Cup Visayas Leg was held in cooperation with the local government of Dumaguete City headed by Mayor Felipe Remollo. The Cup coincided with the Dragon Boat Challenge and the Little League baseball and softball competition that were also hosted by the city.

Sombrio said Nicole Tagle, a Grade 9 student, is a medal prospect for the Kuala Lumpur Games.

“No. 1 siya sa juniors, parang No. 1 din sa senior at 1 din sa Olympic qualifier natin. Taga Dumaguete. Bata pa iyon,” he said.

When asked about his projection for the SEA Games, Sombrio assured they will win medals.

“Maraming medals ang makukuha namin,” he said. “Never mind the color muna, basta iyong medal muna ang mahalaga.”

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