BEIJING—All is not lost for Eric Ang, the country’s lone representative in shooting in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, who finished dead last in the men’s individual trap Sunday.

“Age doesn’t matter in shooting, particularly in Eric’s event,” said Arturo Macapagal, president of the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) who is also the Team Philippines Olympic attaché in the Games.

“The more you mature, the better chances of you improving,” added the former Olympian who competed in the 50-meter (former free) pistol event in the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games. “There are world champions in trap who are above 60 years old. Maturity is an advantage in Eric’s sport.”

Ang is 37 years old and will be 41 in the next Olympics in 2012 in London.

“But he has to earn his spot on the team,” added Macapagal. “Not only for London, but for next year’s SEA [Southeast Asian] Games and the 2010 [Guangzhou] Asian Games. We don’t seed athletes in the PNSA.”

Ang tallied 106 points in the men’s individual trap, way off the 121 set by Czech David Kostelecky, the leader in the qualifying rounds, who eventually won gold. There were 35 competitors in the event.

Ang was himself extremely frustrated about his result and vowed to do better next time.

“Sana sa susunod na Olympics, makabawi ako. Paghahandaan ko na ’yung susunod kung mag-qualify ako,” he said.

Macapagal had lunch with Ang Monday.

“He felt better a day after his event. But he told me he is determined to improve himself and try to make the next Olympics,” said Macapagal.

Macapagal said one factor that went against Ang was a last-minute change the organizers did on the shooting station.

“During the practice sessions, the shooting stands were quite slippery and Eric had to make some adjustments. But most of the shooters complained about the slippery condition of the stands and the organizers added an additional mat to correct the problem,” said Macapagal. “So Eric had to adjust a second time.”

The pressure of competing in his first Olympics primarily weighed Ang down, Macapagal added. “Kaya niya, but the pressure was there. It’s his first Olympics,” said Macapagal, as he stressed Ang had enough foreign exposure before the Olympics, but needed more maturity to excel in the event.

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