By Kristel Satumbaga
The Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines Inc. kicks off its preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by staging the 2019 Go For Gold Philippines Skateboarding Regional Championships in various cities.
The Luzon leg is scheduled on March 23 to 24 in Robinsons Novaliches, followed by April 13 to 14 in Robinsons Iloilo and May 25 to 26 in Robinsons General Santos City.
The event was conceptualized to produce another Margielyn Didal, who accounted for one of four gold medals in last year’s Asian Games.
Skateboarding chief Monty Mendigoria said the top three finishers in the regionals will earn berths in the SEA Games qualifier slated on Aug. 24 to 25 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“It is only proper now that we make a regional championships to find the best skateboarders not only in the country but also in the Asia-Pacific level,” said Mendigoria, who appeared in a press briefing with VANS Marketing Manager Niño Anglo, and Go For Gold’s Jeremy Go.
“We feel that Margie and the skateboarding team will become our bright lights in the 2020 Olympics, and hopefully they can bring home our first Olympic gold medal,’’ said Go.
Mendigoria added that the presence of Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal in the Visayas leg is expected to inspire national team aspirants in her hometown.
They also expect Fil-foreign athletes will join the event.
The association hopes to dominate the SEA Games set late November in Manila where 16 gold medals are at stake.