Dumaguete continues to remain in the sporting map, especially in the field of archery, as it sent its third archer to the Olympic Games.
Mark Javier, a graduate of BS Information Technology from Silliman University, joins the ranks of Olympians Lisa Ygnalaga (Seoul Olympics 1988) and Jennifer Chan (Sydney Olympics 2000) as he represents the country in the London 2012 Olympics.
Reports from the International Archery Federation say that during the 7th World Archery Federation World Cup, the last leg for the archery qualifying games, held in Ogden, Utah, Javier defeated Russia’s Jan Rijavec (7-3) and Denmark’s Bjane Marius Laursen (6-2), making him fifth in the competition. Only the top seven placers of the competition advanced to the Olympics.
Another Filipino archer competing in the Olympics is Rachel Anne Cabral who ranked sixth in the qualifying event for women.
This not the first time Javier made it to the Olympics. In 2008, he was the lone Filipino archer in the Beijing Olympics and made it to the quarterfinals.
Comprising the Philippine delegation, along with Javier and Cabral are: Marestella Torres and Rene Herrera of athletics, Mark Anthony Barriga of boxing, Tomohiko Hoshina of judo, Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, Brian Rosario of shooting, Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Khing Lacuna of swimming and Daniel Caluag of BMX cycling. Lightweight boxer Charlie Suarez is still waiting for a confirmation from the International Amateur Boxing Association if he will be given a wildcard slot for the Olympics. (SU-OIP)
