BY NICK GIONGCO
Despite the worsening Wuhan coronavirus situation around Asia, preparations of Filipino athletes revving up for slots to the Tokyo Olympics continue to gain ground.
Two weeks after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) met with Nonong Araneta, chief of mission to Tokyo2020, PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and Araneta are talking things over anew on Monday.
With the Olympics just five and half months to go and the coronavirus gripping not only Asia but elsewhere, the PSC is expected to go over the programs of 16 national sports association leaders who are targeting to send their athletes overseas in the search of Olympic slots.
The 16 NSA leaders had earlier assured the PSC and Araneta that as much as 50 athletes are on schedule to vie for Tokyo tickets although around 38 have genuine chances of making the grade.
Araneta is aiming to assemble a number that will surpass the 13 that competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
So far, two are already assured of going to Tokyo: world champion gymnast and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Lifter Hidilyn Diaz only needs to have a respectable finish during the Asian championships in April in Kazakhstan to get her Olympic berth while athletics and aquatics are assured of two token participants each.
Boxing and taekwondo are taking part in Olympic qualifiers in March and April, respectively while bets from judo, karate, cycling, skateboarding and rowing are also on training mode.
