By Nick Giongco
Somebody asked skateboarder Margie Didal if she could win the gold in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Asian Games gold medalist was quick to respond.
“Siguruhin ko ‘yan (Sure),” said Didal during a courtesy call at Manny Pacquiao’s Senate office shortly before sundown Wednesday.
First, Didal has to make the Olympic grade when she starts competing in qualifying events beginning 2019.
But based on how Didal answered, it has become apparent that all the Cebu daredevil has to do to make the cut is show up in one of the qualifying events.
In the recently-concluded Asian Games in Indonesia, Didal was the runaway winner of the skateboard street event.
When Tokyo hosts the Olympics in two years, Didal believes she will deliver and prove to everyone that she is a one-trick pony.
With the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee vowing to back her up, the future indeed looks bright for the Cebu-bred athlete, whose golden performance in the co-host city of Palembang, gave the Philippines its fourth gold medal in the quadrennial sportsfest.
Didal was joined by her parents – mother Julie and father Lito – during the visit to Pacquiao’s political lair alongside a few supporters.
Moments before Didal bid Pacquiao goodbye, her eyes lit up when the boxing legend took out his checkbook and wrote on it.
As her companions watched in awe, Pacquiao cleverly handed it to Didal without them seeing how many zeroes were written.
“Keep it. They might end up asking you for bonuses,” said Pacquiao as everyone broke into laughter.
