ILOILO City – Joe Gavin “The Natural” Ong, a young Filipino shooter from Pilar, Capiz province, was crowned world champion in the Production Division – Super Junior Category at the prestigious 2nd Action Air World Shoot (AAWS) held in this city, marking a proud moment for the Philippines on the global sporting stage.
Ong’s victory drew cheers from both local and international shooting communities, highlighting the country’s growing reputation in the sport of practical shooting and underscoring the depth of its youth talent.
The AAWS, sanctioned by the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), gathered top-tier shooters from 20 countries and was officiated by international range officers from Europe and Asia. It opened on July 29 and wrapped up on Aug. 3.
Organized by the Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA) in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., the global event was lauded for its meticulous planning, timely scheduling, and professionally designed stages that provided an optimal competition experience.
IPSC president Vitaly Kryuchin, IROA president Dino Evangelinos, and Match Directors Myro Lopez and Judge Danilo Balagtas highlighted the importance of the tournament during a press conference, particularly noting the impressive rise of junior participants like Ong.
“This sport is shaping a new generation grounded in discipline, focus, and commitment,” organizers said.
“This particular match symbolizes the dedication of all practical shooters in developing our next generation of competitors. From this pool of young competitors will emerge future world champions,” an official statement read — made even more meaningful by Ong’s gold-medal performance.
Dubbed “The Natural” by peers for his composure and precision under pressure, Ong’s triumph is seen as a testament to the success of youth development programs in Action Air.
“The intangible value of Action Air is the cultivation of our young shooters who adhere to mature, responsible, and safe handling of firearms,” noted another organizer.
The event’s success is being attributed to the efforts of competitors, organizers, sponsors, range officers, Philippine government agencies, and the host city of Iloilo — now gaining recognition as an emerging hub for international sporting events.
With this victory, Joe Gavin Ong not only made his mark as a global champion but also raised the flag high for Filipino excellence./PN
