By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina have formalized their entry to the Philippine team that would compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics following the end of the qualification period over the weekend.
The women’s field was finalized on Monday, June 24, at the conclusion of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — the third women’s major of the season — with Pagdanganan and Ardina making it inside the Top 60 of the Rolex Olympic rankings.
This would be Pagdanganan’s second Olympic stint after competing in the 2020 Tokyo Games where she finished tied for 43rd place.
Ardina, for her part, actually qualified for the 2016 Rio Games, but declared herself unable to compete due to the Zika virus threat.
Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso also earned a return trip to the Olympics, this time competing for Japan.
She propelled for being fourth-ranked to No. 1 Japanese player in the field following her victory at the 2024 US Women’s Open.
Saso competed for Team Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo edition where she finished ninth.
The golf competition in Paris will be held at the Le Golf Tournament in Guyancourt from Aug. 1 to 4 for men’s, and Aug. 7 to 10 for women’s.
Meanwhile, Philippine Aquatics Inc. has nominated Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch for the two allocated quotas under the universality rule in swimming.
The nomination was submitted last Monday, June 24, where World Aquatics will finalize and send confirmation on or before July 3.
Judoka Kiyome Watanabe is also set to clinch an Olympic berth pending the official announcement of the International Judo Federation (IJF).
The Fil-Japanese is in line to get one of the two continental quotas reserved for Asia in the women’s -63kg division with her world ranking.
With the development, the current number of athletes improved to 20, exceeding the 19 athletes who competed in the previous edition in Tokyo.
“Great news. We couldn’t ask for more,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Bambol Tolentino.
“Each day, as the countdown to the Olympics dwindles, the morale goes higher and higher,” he added.
More athletes are still expected to qualify particularly from athletics.
The other Filipino qualifiers are pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan; weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, Levi Ruivivar and Aleah Finnegan; rower Joanie Delgaco; and fencer Samantha Catantan.
