THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Thursday named karate head Richard Lim as the 443-strong national team’s chef de mission in this September’s 20^th Asian Games (Asiad) in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan where it eyes its best performance in more than half a century.

The POC hopes Mr. Lim brings with him the same lucky charm he had when he served in the same position in last year’s Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China where the men’s curling team delivered the country’s first gold medal there.

POC President Abraham N. Tolentino revealed weeks ago that he had high hopes for the Nationals to eclipse the four-gold haul in the last two editions of the quadrennial meet in Hangzhou, China in 2023 and Palembang, Indonesia in 2018.

If it happens, it will be the best effort by the country in the Asiad since snaring seven mints in the 1962 Jakarta edition, eight in 1958 in Tokyo and 14 in 1954 in Manila.

Mr. Lim’s appointment was announced during the POC general assembly at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque.

Serving as Mr. Lim’s deputies are Alexander Sulit, Jose Malonzo, Jarryd Bello and Erika Dy.

The POC will field in total 443 athletes, the second highest sent to the Asiad next only to 524 in 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan, from 38 sports.

In all, the nation will have a total of 753 delegates including 258 team officials and members of the coaching staff.

Mr. Tolentino’s optimism came from the fact that they will send the best of the best including Olympic double gold winner Carlos Yulo of gymnastics, medalists Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Aira Villegas of boxing, Kayla Williams of swimming, and world champions in other disciplines like jiu-jitsu, golf and e-sports.

It also includes Hangzhou Asiad gold winners Gilas Pilipinas and EJ Obiena of pole vault.

“We’ll be sending our Olympians and world champions and all of these athletes went through the qualifying process and qualified,” said Mr. Tolentino. — Joey Villar