By Nick Giongco
The leadership of the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) remains upbeat that the 10-year gold medal drought in the Southeast Asian Games will end when the country hosts the biennial sporstfest late this year, PSI president Lani Velasco said yesterday.
“I feel we will win not just one (gold),” said Velasco, noting that five Fil-foreign talents will beef up the squad that will take part in the Nov. 30-Dec. 11 SEAG.
Apart from these recruits, PSI will still parade the multi-awarded Jasmine Alkhaldi as well as James Deiparine, who took two silvers in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur and Roxanne Yu, who bagged bronze also two years ago.
“The swimmers are training and the preparations for the SEAG are running smoothly,” said Velasco.
A meeting with Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez is tops on Velasco’s priority so she could map out her athletes’ buildup for the SEAG.
There will be 36 events on tap in swimming alone.
Last time the Philippine struck gold in SEAG swimming was in the 2009 Vientiane SEAG with Fil-Ams Miguel Molina and Daniel Coakley leading the way for the country’s four-gold haul.
