Sweet hurdle

Our government, particularly the Philippines Sports Committee (SPC), has recently been bombarded with criticism after our own Filipino athletes thrived in their respective sports participation in different sports fields. Given the fact that these athletes were not sufficiently supported with enough funds from the government, they still managed to bring home a surprising bacon with medals on their necks.

A breakthrough like this is worth celebrating. But still, the government doesn’t seem to have elated eyes for our sports enthusiasts.

Just recently, our own Filipino pole vaulter, Ej Obiena, took to his social media accounts to share a lengthy post about his withdrawal from the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Kazakhstan because of financial woes. His team has not been paid in over a year. Payments are caught up in red tape.

Jasmine Mojdeh is also among the victorious athletes who were not given the opportunity to advance in the world swimming championship because Malacañang Palace doesn’t have sufficient funds to keep up.

Moreover, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz also experienced this crisis behind her success last 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics. Diaz took initiative by asking for support from private companies to sponsor her allowance and expenses during her training. She was about to quit, as she was never backed up financially by the government.

Truly, our athletes’ recent successes have been strained with a huge disappointment, as behind their burning determination

Just like them, student-athletes in Sirawai, when interviewed, expressed the same sentiments as they could personally relate themselves to this undying dilemma that our government has once again failed to resolve. We hope but expect that this missing fork in the table will soon be over.

It is indeed demotivating when our athletes face such an obstacle despite their goal to bring our country to the pinnacle of victory in sports, be it local, national, or international.

The systemic failure is abundantly clear, yet alarming. If the government will continue to turn deaf ears to the agony of our skilled and abled athletes, then it is quite certain to say that our future young generation athletes will not be motivated to participate in sports anymore.

Our country must invest in sports because Filipinos are known to be competitive in various sports events. If the government would have been in full support of them, then it leaves no doubt that we were able to harvest gold medals in the Olympics.

Nevertheless, the amazing victories our athletes have nabbed remain worthy despite our government’s lapses in provid-

Manyargue whether e-sports such as ML (mobile legends) should be included in school sporting events. Hence, equating the difference between traditional and electronic sports has now become a challenge that would give us the condition to break down the two as to which one weighs more significantly when it comes to the real essence of sports.

As a student and a sports enthusiast, I favor its inclusion in our sports events in school because e-sports is now officially considered a gold medal event, even way back at the 2019 SEA Games. This was according to the International Olympics Committee. Moreover, Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chair Alan Peter Cayetano said that those who play e-sports are athletes to consider.

If we try to delve deeper, sports are not just about moving and running but also about our mental abilities. Thus, playing such an online game is about being wise, and the presence of mind is needed. However, this kind of sport should also be given regulation. Discipline in ourselves must still be a wall against overuse. Moreover, allowing it to include in every school’s events is like eliminating the stigma of e-gaming being wrong to play nowadays.

It has no doubt, then, that after our professional kababayans gamers dominated the World Champion Indonesia in the ML Bang Bang in the SEA GAMES, pinoy athletes looked them up, making it to the highest-level degree.

Further, we cannot deny that it has already become part of the culture of the young ones today because of technology. It has been an arena for them to enjoy exposing themselves to e-games. Apart from this, by incorporating it into our sporting activities in school, we will become more honed in it, and who knows, we will finally be able to clinch elusive gold medals in the Olympics. Likewise, our government will no longer make it a headache for them to fund enormous amounts for the training and the production of equipment to be used during trainings.

Engaging in sports, regardless of their category, boosts our success as students. Yet, the inclusion of e-sports is not a problem at all.

According to American Psychological Association researchers, social rejection increases anger, anxiety, jealousy, and depression. It also reduces performance on challenging tasks.

Most importantly, by participating in any sports we have—be it traditional or e-sports—what matters is the discipline and tactics we learn from our coaches and the sport itself.

Ontong aces chess tournament, advances to Division Meet

With his clever moves, Sirawai district's Althanie S. Ontong, effortlelessly aced the chess tournament against his opponent in the Provincial Meet held at Sindangan,Zam- boanga del Norte, February 9.

During the start of the match, Ontong intelligently used the annihilation of defense strategy in exchange for a safe position- ing of the pieces that made him win the game.

"My training was not an easy one. I did serious practice during the time when the game drew nearer", said the provincial champion.

He further shared that his inspiration to win the game was his parents, who motivated him all throughout his battle, from school-based up to provincials. Meanwhile,his coach, Nurisa Gumba, was elated to share the triumph they were able to bring to Sirawai.

Coach Nurisa said that Ontong had shown a predictable victory because of his dedication to his training at school.