BILANG bahagi ng paghahanda sa 31st Southeast Asian Games, inanyayahan ng Wrestling Association of the Philippines ang mga top wrestlers mula Russia at Canada para makipagtagisan ng galing sa mga atletang Pilipino simula Marso hanggang Abril ngayong taon

Itinuturing ni WAP president Alvin Aguilar na isang malaking oportunidad na makasama ang mga world-class wrestlers mula Russia at Canada para sa kanilang paghahanda sa biennial competition, na nakatakda sa Mayo 12-23 sa Hanoi, Vietnam.

“This is a great opportunity for our national wrestlers to train and learn with the best from Russia and Canada and I am thankful that they have agreed to come to the Philipplnes,” sabi ni Aguilar sa panayam sa “Sports On Air” program via Zoom.

“The Russians will arrive in the second week of March while the Canadians will arrive in the first or second week of April. Our athletes need training partners as part of their preparations for the SEAG, “dagdag pa ni Aguilar.

Inanunsyo din ni Aguilar na ang Russian Wrestling Federation ay pumayag na magpadala ng 10 atleta.

“The Russian federation will shoulder the airfare of their athletes while the WAP will provide the board and lodging,” pahayag niya.

Samantala, ang 30-member na Canadian wrestling team ang sasagot sa kanilang airfare, food at accommodation habang nasa bansa.

They (Canadian wrestlers) really go abroad to train. They’re supposed to go to Korea to train this year, but I was able to convince them to come here instead. Sabi ko sa kanila, sa La Union, may mountains, may waterfalls,” pagbubulgar pa ni Aguilar.

“Right now, I am not satisfied with our SEAG preparation since we don’t have training partners yet, so the arrival of the Russians and the Canadians can help a lot.”

Hinihintay pa diumano ni Aguilar at WAP ang basbas ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) para makapag-simula ng ensayo sa La Union.

“Actually, we’ve already prepared to spend Christmas in La Union. There, we have the mountains, we have a place to run. We have outdoor training and then our mats time as well, which is very, very important,” wika pa ni Aguilar.

Inamin din niya na ang delay sa pagkuha ng approval ng PSC ay dahil na din sa mga unliquidated financial assistance ng kanyang pinalitang administration.

“It’s not actually the PSC’s fault, because they follow regulations. There are still unliquidated amount from wrestling, but they are not during my tenure ” paliwanag pa niya.