SINAGOT ni Equestrian Philippines, Inc. (EquestrianPH) president Carissa Coscolluela (kanan) ang tanong mula sa sports meda sa ginanap na “Usapang Sports” forum na inorganisa ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) Huwebes ng umaga sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Maynila. Kasama ni Coscolluela sa forum (mula kaliwa) sina veteran rider Joker Arroyo at TOPS president Ed Andaya.
BUHAY na buhay pa rin ang equestrian sa Pilipinas.
At ito ay dahil na rin sa Equestrian Philippines, Inc. o EquestrianPH na tinutulungan ang mga Pinoy na magsagawa ng marka sa mga internasyonal na torneo at itinutuloy ang pagpapaunlad ng mga batang atleta sa ilalim ng grupo.
Kamakailan lang ay nagwagi ng silver medal ang mga veteran riders na sina Toni Leviste, Joker Arroyo at Colin Syquia sa kauna-unahang FEA Asian Championships.
At para mapanatili ang tagumpay na ito sinabi ni EquestrianPH president Carissa Coscolluela na patuloy ang pagsasanay nila ng mga batang atleta na balang araw ay papalit sa mga beteranong tulad nina Paola Lorenzo, Nicole Camcam, Minxie Romualdez, Alex Ynares-Villalon, Nikki Aboitiz, Anda Lagdameo at Lara Zobel.
Sinabi pa ni Coscolluela na maraming mga bata at may talentong riders na kayang irepresenta ang bansa sa hinaharap.
“We established EquestrianPH in 2018 because we want to continue the initiatives we started so that the sport can continue to grow,” sabi ni Coscolluela sa ginanap na “Usapang Sports” forum na inorganisa ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) noong Huwebes sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Maynila.
“Right now, we only have only a handful of riders who can qualify to the regional championships, like the Asian Games and the SEA Games. Soon, magre-retire mga iyan. So there’s a need to develop riders in the training pool,” dagdag pa ni Coscolluela.
Sinabi naman ni Arroyo na ang EquestrianPH ay nag-organisa ng championship series para makahanap ng mga bago at may talentong riders.
“It’s the first time in the country in over a decade that we have a full-blown championship series wherein we invited riders from all over the country and they were able to compete in a series of competitions where they can get points towards championship titles. That’s really how you breed champions by encouraging them to start early and train early,” sabi ni Arroyo.
Ang 20-anyos na Ateneo de Manila University management engineering student na si Lorenzo ang tinanghal na overall champion sa inorganisa ng EquestrianPH na showjumping competition sakay ng kanyang 13-anyos na Selel Francais chestnut gelding.
“Paola is an extremely talented athlete and has proven on multiple occasions to be a reliable team member who always delivers. She is an excellent student and it has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of her development as a rider,” sabi pa ni Arroyo, na nagsilbing coach ni Lorenzo.
Si Romualdez, na siyang pinakabatang kalahok sa edad na 12, ang nagkampeon sa 0.65m category sakay ng kanyang Irish pony na si Magic Mio.
Ang second leg ng serye ay gaganapin sa Marso 14 at magtatapos sa Marso 29 para sa isasagawang Equestrian Philippines Cup na bahagi ng MPC 55th Annual Horse Show na itinataguyod ng EquestrianPH.
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