The Philippines should focus on less than 10 disciplines when it seeks its first-ever gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said.

"I will respect whatever recommendations will be made by the different sports organizations, but I personally believe that less than ten sports should be prioritized for the Olympics," Puentevella, vice-president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, told the DAILY STAR.

A series of meetings starting late this month will be conducted among the officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, POC and the different National Sports Associations to focus on what disciplines can give the country's first gold in the international meet.

Puentevella, a former PSC commissioner, said he would prefer boxing, taekwondo, diving, swimming, shooting, archery and women's weightlifting as the sports to be prioritized.

These disciplines, especially boxing, have the biggest chances of giving the country's first-ever gold in the international event, Puentevella said.

Bago City-born boxer Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco fell short of the elusive gold in the finals of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

"We could probably add one or two more sports to be developed, but it should be really less than ten," Puentevella said.

The budget should also be considered in choosing the disciplines to be prioritized, he added.

PSC chairman William Ramirez said the identification of the sports to be prioritized depends heavily on the potential of the athletes.*CIT

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