Musthofid
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Manila<\/p>\n
Lydia de Vega still owns a SEA Games record, but she wishes
\nsomeone would come along and take it away from her.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the undisputed queen of the track in the 1980s
\nwatched the Philippines secure a one-two finish in the women's
\nlong jump.<\/p>\n
Despite the success of her compatriots, she admitted she was
\nstill longing for a successor, not only from her country but in
\nthe region. Her 100 meter SEA Games record of 11.28 seconds, set
\nat the 1987 Games in Jakarta, still stands today.<\/p>\n
"Yes, I'm happy with the Philippines' athletics perfomance,
\nbut the only thing is that we don't have the best sprinters like
\nme. That is the only frustration I have because I want to see
\nFilipino athletes follow in my footsteps," the two-time Asian
\nchampion told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the track and
\nfield competition at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.<\/p>\n
De Vega, now a 40-year-old mother of two daughters, complained
\nabout a lack of talent as well as half-hearted government support
\nfor sports development.<\/p>\n
"We don't have a lot of talent but the main problem is that we
\nlack the support of the government. We have to send athletes
\nabroad, bring good coaches, organize seminars on good techniques
\nand training method," she said.<\/p>\n
De Vega said she still had confidence that Filipinos and the
\nregion's athletes would be able to compete with their Asian peers
\nfrom Japan and China, which has emerged as the continent's sports
\npowerhouse.<\/p>\n
"Why not? We have done it before. We probably haven't found
\nthe right athletes for the SEA Games event. That's the problem."<\/p>\n
She came from an athletic family, with both parents involved
\nin sport. "My father specialized in jump events and my mother was
\na sprinter. I have the blood of athletes."<\/p>\n
She took up running at the age of 12, with a teacher
\nencouraging her to pursue the sport.<\/p>\n
Her father provided focused guidance for her in grooming her
\nskills, and sports administrator began to take notice of her
\nskills.<\/p>\n
After winning the 200 and 400 meters at the SEA Games in
\nManila in 1981, she came to international prominence at the Asian
\nGames a year later. In 1986, she became the first woman to win
\nback-to-back gold medals in the 100 meters at the Asiad.<\/p>\n
In 1987, she reigned in the 100-meter dash in Jakarta, besting
\nthe record of track legend PT Usha of India.<\/p>\n
"It was tight competition against PT Usha at the time," she
\nremembered.<\/p>\n
A consultant with the Philippines Sports Commission, de Vega
\nexpressed regret that the Games have been marred by tardy
\npreparation.<\/p>\n
"We're facing too many problems. But I think at the
\nbeginning, it was the budget. We had little time to work on
\neverything because the budget (from the government) did not
\narrive on time."<\/p>\n
"Now the Games have already started. We are getting better
\nevery day."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/musthofid-1447899208",
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