World champion Carlos Yulo of gymnastics and EJ Obiena of athletics are already assured of receiving more than the usual from the Philippine Sport Commission (PSC) as they gear up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said Filipino athletes who will make the Olympic grade should not worry about getting financial assistance from the government.
Yulo and Obiena, both honing their skills overseas, can heave a sigh of relief alongside who are on the cusp of qualifying.
“We will be funding (them) well,” said Ramirez.
The Tokyo Olympics will take place from July 24 to Aug. 9 with the Philippines, once again, embarking on a quest to end its hunt for the gold medal.
Ramirez said the PSC will draw solid support from the Pagcor and Malacañang in assuring that Filipino Olympic aspirants be armed to the teeth by the time they vie in Tokyo.
So far, Yulo and Obiena are the qualified Filipino athletes having passed the Olympic grade when they competed in the recent months.
Yulo earned his after winning in the world championships while Obiena got his after topping a tournament in Italy.
There should be several coming from boxing with world champion Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Felix Marcial and other standouts vying in the Olympic qualifying in Wuhan, China in February.
Olympic qualifying events for all the other sports are also down the pipeline with the months leading to the Tokyo Games loaded with events meant to qualify athletes.
Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal of skateboarding are likewise on the brink of making it.