WITH the Tokyo Olympics already gone in the radar, the national table tennis athletes shifted their focus to the 31st Southeast Asian Games Vietnam is hosting from November 21 to December 3.
Rose Jean Fadol, Jannah Romero, John Russel Misal, and Jann Mari Nayre missed earning tickets to Tokyo after crashing out of the Olympic qualifying tournament and the Asian Singles Qualifying Tournament in Doha last week.
National team head coach Annabelle Comendador said her wards are now focused on an improved performance in Vietnam.
“Because of the exposure and experience we got from the qualifiers, I believe that we are in a stronger position now in getting a medal,” Comendador said. “The qualifiers gave us a boost and it gave us a big help in our preparations.”
The Philippines managed only one bronze medal—Richard Pugoy Gonzales in men’s singles—in the Philippines 2019 SEA Games which Singapore dominated by winning two of the four golds at stake.
The national athletes, however, could only do individual training because of the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine.
“We are scouting past games, watching films of their matches in the qualifiers,” Comendador said. “After the ECQ, we’ll go back to our normal training routine with the table and paddles.”
Comendador said the country has more chances in Vietnam where seven gold medals will be disputed.
“Our chances of winning a medal [in Vietnam] have also increased because the hosts added three more events,” she said.
At stake in Vietnam are the men’s and women’s singles, doubles and team events and a mixed doubles competition.
The Philippine Table Tennis Federation, through the Philippine Sports Commission, has a bubble training camp at the Semicon Building in Pasig City.
Also in the camp are athletes John Michael Castro, Emy Rose Dael, and Angelou Joyce Laude. With Comendador is Coach Johan Remaneses.
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