13-year-old wins national juniors shooting title

AJ Javines outplayed veterans like Richard Gomez in the National Open Championship Trap/Skeet competition.

By Stewart Tan

MANILA—Youngster AJ Javines of Ateneo de Manila University is slowly making a name for himself in the shooting trap and skeet clay category at a young age.

Javines captured the national juniors trap and skeet title after finishing fifth overall in the National Open Championship Trap/Skeet competition held at the PSC-PNSA Clay Target Range in Muntinlupa City.

The 13-year-old Javines scored 14-18-19-18-15 for a total of 84 shots out of 125 targets.

Javines finished fifth behind Philippine National Shooting member Hagen Alexander Topacio, Eric Ang, Itos Carag, and Jethro Dionisio in trap men’s categories.

Topacio had 23-22-23-24-23 for a total of 115, followed by Ang with 23-21-22-21-19 for 106 and Carag with 21-21-22-19-20 for 103.

In finishing fifth, Javines was able to secure the National Junior plum and a spot in Philippine National Training Team.

“Ever since I took up the sport, it is really my dream to become a national player,” said Javines, who even beat actor-sportsman Richard Gomez, ninth overall, in the event.

Javines attributed his success to his long and intense training and the support of his proud parents, Engineer Teddy and Michelle Javines.

“It’s very impressive to see a 13-year-old making his presence felt in this very demanding sport of Olympic trap,” said national team coach Fernando Mercado.

Javines and Mercado are currently in Kuwait to train at International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Olympic Trap Training Camp.

"AJ will train along with other top junior shooters from all over the world as part of his preparations to represent the country in the International Junior Shooting Competition in South Korea in June," Mercado said.

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