Gold medal abot-kamay na sa Tokyo Olympics—Ramirez

MANILA, Philippines — Alinman sa anim na sports events maaaring makakolekta ang Pilipinas ng kauna-unahang gold medal sa Olympic Games na idaraos sa Tokyo, Japan sa Hulyo 23 hanggang Agosto 8, 2021.

Ito ang paniniwala ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez kaugnay sa paghahangad ng bansa ng Olympic gold.

“The biggest chance for the Philippines to win a gold in the Olympics is in boxing, weightlifting, rhythmic gymnastics and martial arts sports like taekwondo, judo and karate,” wika ni Ramirez.

Sina gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, boxers Eumir Felix Marcial at Irish Magno at pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena ang kasalukuyan pa lamang may Olympic berth.

Sa 83 elite athletes mula sa 19 sports ay posible pang may 11 na makakuha ng tiket para sa 2021 Tokyo Olympics, ayon kay Ramirez.

“Based on our assessment, there are still 83 elite athletes from 19 sports trying to get an Olympic ticket. We already have four qualifiers in Yulo, Obiena, Marcial and Magno,” wika ni Ramirez. “If we can get at least 15 athletes marching for us in the Olympics, that will be a very good number.”

Tumatarget ng Olympic spot sina 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), 2018 Asian Games gold medal winner Margielyn Didal (skateboarding) at four-time Southeast Asian Games champion Kiyomi Watanabe (judo).

Nakapaglahok ang bansa ng 13 atleta noong 2016 Olympics sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil kung saan binuhat ni Diaz ang silver medal sa women’s weightlifting.

Kamakailan ay binigyan ng ‘green light’ ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) ang pagbabalik-ensayo ng mga Olympic qualifiers at hopefuls.

Ipapasok sila ng PSC sa isang ‘bubble’ training sa Inspire Sports Academy sa Calamba, Laguna na nauna nang ginamit ng Chooks-to-Go para sa kanilang Pilipinas 3x3 tounament.