Heavy sked up for obstacle sports body topped by two global meets

THE Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) faces a hectic schedule this year with two major international competitions basically just around the corner.

POSF president Atty. Al Agra told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that first up is the Ninja World Cup Asia, the first of a three-leg series to be participated in by the region’s best obstacle course racers.

It is scheduled March 31 to April 2 at the Arcovia City in Pasig City, Agra told the weekly forum held at the ground floor of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex administration building.

“This will be followed by events in the United States and Poland. We’re lucky to host the first,” Agra told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The POSF is expected to field entries in all three legs.

Agra, who recently earned a fresh mandate as POSF president, is also looking forward to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia from May 5 to 17, where Filipino athletes are tipped to shine once more.

Obstacle sports was scrapped from the Hanoi SEA Games last year and the Filipinos are itching to stay on top of the podium after sweeping all six gold medals contested in the 2019 edition in Manila.

Agra said from six, the events were trimmed down to four in Phnom Penh—men’s and women’s individual and men’s and women’s relay featuring a flat 100-meter course with 12 obstacles.

Agra said after three qualifying events, the POSF has identified the 12 athletes to represent the country in the SEA Games.

The POSF donated the entire course to their Cambodian counterparts and has even invited the teams from Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Brunei to come over and train in the Philippines.

“We want all the countries in the SEA Games to be competitive,” said Agra, adding that part of the POSF mission is to make the sport permanent in the SEA Games program.

“We also want to be part of the Asian Games, then the Olympics,” said Agra, who also mentioned the staging of the OCR World Championships in Belgium in September.

“We will be sending our biggest contingent ever to the world championships,” he said.

The POSF president also proposed to the POC and PSC the holding of the Philippine Masters and Seniors Games.

“If you have the Batang Pinoy, perhaps you can also have the Tandang Pinoy,” he said.