We are but virtual spectators in the Asiad

By Al S. Mendoza

 

IF we win 3 gold medals in the Incheon Asian Games, that’d be good enough.

If we win 4, better.

If we win 5, best of the bests.

And 6 or more?  Lotto jackpot!

That’s because we won 3 gold medals from bowling, boxing and billiards in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

Since billiards is out in Incheon, that is one gold medal less for us.

So, if we make 3 in Incheon, it’d be like break even in business.

Not bad since the Asiad is where Asia’s top guns love to strut their wares with impunity.

Reduced to being virtual spectators, we are not even in the Top 10 among the 45 nations entered in the quadrennial Asiad.

Don’t fret, please?

No surprise there.

China has been the perennial champion since it joined the Asiad some 40 or so years ago, with Japan and South Korea way behind at second and third, respectively.

China the giant had a self-imposed slumber after the Mao Zedong-led Communist victory expelled the Americans and the Kumintangs in 1949.

It closed its doors to the world while rebuilding its economy, treading the politically correct path that only a strong economy can produce a powerful sports program.

Thus, when China reached growth to brimming proportions, it would next focus its sights on sports.

I wasn’t shocked one bit when, in its return to the world sports stage, China immediately starred.

Slowly but surely, China would dominate the Asian Games.

Thus, before long, it dislodged erstwhile sports power Russia as the No. 1 foe of the U.S. in the Olympic Games.

If we finish in the Top 30 at the Games’ conclusion on October 4, I’d throw a party at the Palace if Noynoy would allow.

Look, we have yet to win our first gold medal (I wrote this in advance) while smaller countries like Mongolia, Taipei, Singapore and even Hong Kong had a gold or two already.

We are in 27 disciplines in Incheon, and we are seeded a bit only in boxing, bowling, wushu, golf and, yes, basketball.

We can be ambitious, but we should never be greedy.

We win gold in these events and that should be it, we hit our target.

We should be contented with what can be achievable.

If we outdo ourselves in the end and we end up beyond Valentin Dakuykoy’s expectations, fine.

That’d be a bonus of incredible heights and if that should merit a windfall of bonanzas from patrons, it is justified.

Let us just sit tight.

Given the limitations accruing to an inherently non-First World country like us, we bow to the giants — willingly.

Thus, whatever would be the result – 3, 4, 5 gold medals or even more hopefully – bottom line is, we gave it our best shot.

You are Third World material, you can only do so much.

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