By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez is hopeful the country can produce at least 10 more qualifiers to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics despite the challenges brought by the pandemic.
Ramirez’s assessment was based on the athletes’ performances over the last two years that include the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which the country hosted.
The PSC said it has already identified 83 athletes from 19 sports that are capable of qualifying to the quadrennial spectacle and join early qualifiers gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.
“If we can get at least 15 athletes marching for us in the Olympics, that will be a very good number,” Ramirez said.
Among them are 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, and fellow 2016 Rio Olympians Eric Cray of athletics, Jasmine Alkhaldi of swimming, Rogen Ladon of boxing, Miguel Tabuena of golf, Kirstie Elaine Alora of taekwondo, and Nestor Colonia of weightlifting.
Trackster Kristina Knott, golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, world champion boxer Nesthy Petecio, 2018 Asian Games gold medalist
of skateboarding, and 2018 Asian Games silver medalist Kiyomi Watanabe of judo are also being eyed to clinch Olympic spots.
Athletes are expected to cram for training as postponed qualifiers are expected to be rescheduled in the first half of 2021 in time for the 2021 Tokyo Games set July 23 to Aug. 8.
