The road to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics continues for Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo following his bronze medal finish in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said that from Doha, the 18-year-old Yulo is hoping to vie in the Cottbus World Cup in Germany from Nov. 22 to 25.
“It’s not easy to qualify in the Olympics especially in gymnastics. That’s why he has to compete in all these tournaments,” said Carrion at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at the Tapa King Restaurant in Farmers Plaza, Cubao.
Yulo, the first Filipino gymnast to win a medal in the world championships, is working on his German visa. Only the top 24 gymnasts in the Doha event were invited to the Cottbus World Cup.
“That’s why we’re working on his German visa only now,” said Carrion of Yulo, who’s been training in Japan under coach Munehiro Kugimiya the past two years.
Yulo plans to spend Christmas with his family in Leveriza in Manila. He will arrive in the country on Dec. 23.
“Then he’ll be off to more tournaments in 2019, including the next World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. If he wins any medal there, he qualifies to the Tokyo Olympics,” said Carrion.
“Let’s hope he wins a medal of any color in Stuttgart so then he can focus on the Olympics,” she added.
Yulo will also lead the Philippine campaign in the gymnastics competition of the 2019 SEA Games in Manila.
“We don’t want to put too much pressure on him but we are very hopeful,” said Carrion during the sports forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
