The country’s shooting representative to the London Olympics is now down to two shotgun shooters — Brian del Rosario (skeet) and Hagen Topacio (trap).

This was announced yesterday by Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) president Mikee Romero who is in London attending the General Assembly of the International Sports Shooting Federation.

According to Romero, ISSF vice president and Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) president Sheik Salman Al Sabah has assured the country of a slot in shotgun since the rifle and pistol events in the coming quadrennial event are already full.

Al Sabah, who is a member of the Royal family of Kuwait, vigorously pushed that the Philippines be given a wildcard in the Olympics.

“We have to lobby day in and day out for us not to lose that slot, we have chased the ISSF and IOC (International Olympic Committee) all over the world for the Philippines to be given the wildcard,” said Romero, who thanked former PNSA president Arturo Macapagal for his support.

Manny Lopez, the country’s chef de mission, has also rallied the support of several allies so that the country will have a slot in shooting.

“I also would like to thank the members of the POC (Philippines Olympic Committee) for their support in giving shooting a slot in the London Games,” added Romero, who is the president and CEO of Harbour Centre.

Del Rosario and Topacio were nominated by PNSA to the ISSF along with Tac Padilla, the undisputed pistol king, and Jason Valdez, the rising star in rifle.

Mexico’s Olegario Vasquez Rana, the long-time ISSF president, said a total of 360 shooters will vie for supremacy in 15 events.

Topacio and Del Rosario are currently under the Olympic scholarship programs of the IOC.

Rosario has a strong chance of earning a slot since he has already bettered the score of the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold winner.

Source:-
http://www.tribuneonline.org/sports/20120424spo1.html