SEA Games hammer throw king seeks foreign training

Arniel Ferrera, the undisputed Southeast Asian Games hammer throw king from Cauayan, Negros Occidental, last night said he hopes to finally undergo training abroad and get the help of a top-caliber coach as he sets his target of making the Olympics in the next few years.

Citing the improvement of fellow Negrense athlete Sheena Atilano, who trained in the United States for six months early this year, Ferrera said European countries Germany and Russia can be an ideal site for training because of its world-class facilities and coaches.

Ferrera acknowledged that the cost of training in Europe is prohibitive. “But it’s one of the best ways to improve,” he added.

Since establishing the SEA Games and Philippine standard of 60.47-meters in Manila two years ago, the Cauayan athlete has not gone close of surpassing the record, falling short in the Asian Games in Doha by more than a meter.

Atilano of La Carlota City, meanwhile, achieved a personal best of 13.71 seconds in the 100m hurdles, surpassing her previous best of 14.46 seconds, while competing in track and field meets in Southern California.

The Negrense believes the weather in Europe and the competition --- even in training --- can push an athlete to the limit.

He also said hopes to adapt the training being conducted by Russian coaches, who have good technique and have produced world champions.

“I have been tested in the SEA Games so the next step is really to improve on my performance in the next Asian Games. After the Asiad, the next best thing is the Olympics,” Ferrera said, adding that PSC chairman Butch Ramirez has asked him if he can win a medal in the Olympics.

“I told him (Ramirez) that my record is really far behind the Olympic standards and that foreign training would be of great help,” Ferrera said.

The Cauayan-born athlete said that although some quarters have verbally expressed their support for his foreign training, the differences between the PSC and the Philippine Amateur Athletic Association may have shelved the plan.

Nevertheless, Ferrera, a member of the Philippine Air Force, expressed optimism of making a SEA Games hammer throw hat-trick when the biennial meet is held in Thailand from Dec. 5-15.

With the SEAG less than six months away, Ferrera admitted that he has yet to reach peak form, citing his commitments to the PAF that has limited his time off the training ground during the past few months.

“I just got back training three weeks ago,” Ferrera said, but “I’m optimistic I could reach my target in the SEA Games”. *Cedelf P. Tupas