PSC promises better medical staff, equipment for athletes

By Peter Atencio

THE Philippine Sports Commission promised improvements on how to take care of Filipino athletes recovering from fatigue after competition and those injured in their tour of duty.

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann promised this as the country prepares to send a national delegation to the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Bachmann saw the need for the government sports agency to step up in this area after spending a lot of time watching athletes train, prepare, compete and recover in the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh.

The PSC chief and the commissioners who joined him in Cambodia saw Filipino athletes get injured and suffer from cramps and other medical issues after their events have ended.

Prime example was top Filipino fencer Samantha Catantan, who was injured during t he semifinals of her campaign. She settled for a silver medal, aft er she was forced to concede her finals’ encounter with Singaporean opponent Maxine Wong.

“We need to correct mistakes at this point,” said Bachmann, who felt that the agency needs to deploy more physical therapists during the SEA Games, adding that more medical personnel should be made available during the coming Asiad.

For Bachmann, this means that the therapists of the Medical Scientific Athletes Services Team of the PSC should be bolstered to handle situations involving athletes during international competitions better.

Bachmann talked of the need to deploy more PTS and masseuse following talks with Asian Games chef de mission Richard Gomez last week.

Sports officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee also took note of the need to have a designated room or tent at every competition venue where Filipino athletes compete. The area will be used exclusively by medical people to work on athletes, who are injured and those recovering for their next events.

POC president Abraha m Tolentino