MANILA, Philippines — Ang ipinakitang gilas sa nakaraang 30th Southeast Asian Games ang inaasahang madadala ng mga Filipino athletes sa 2020 Olympic Games sa Tokyo, Japan.
Ito ang kumpiyansang pahayag ni Marc Velasco, ang national training director ng Philippine Sports Institute (PSI), kahapon sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila.
“We firmly believed that we will be able to carry over yung efforts and ‘yung energy ng ating mga athletes. We are still very high sa ating success, kaya we believed we might have a big contingent in Tokyo,” wika ni Velasco, kumatawan kay Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.
Sa nasabing biennial meet ay humakot ang mga Pinoy athletes ng 149 gold medals para angkinin ang overall championship matapos noong 2005.
Ang mga nakakuha na ng tiket para sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics ay sina world gymnastic champion Carlos Edriel Yulo at pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.
“An Olympic medal is better than a SEA Games medal. So nandoon muna ‘yung energy, ‘yung focus ng PSC, to provide for the athletes to be able to qualify for the Olympics,” wika ni Velasco.
Umaasa namang makakalahok sa 2020 Olympics sina 2016 silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe at skateboarder Margielyn Didal.