Team RP ready for Beijing joust

Members of Team Philippines bound for the Beijing Olympics are all ready and raring to go with only a week before the Games formally kick off in the eminent Chinese capital.

Fifteen athletes lead the Filipinos’ charge for a first ever gold medal, with taekwondo jins Mary Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go, along with boxer Harry Tañamor looming as the country’s best bets for Olympic glory.

“It’s going to be an uphill climb, but in sports, everything is possible,” remarked Team Philippines chef de mission Monico Puentevella at the weekly PSA Forum yesterday.

Rivero and Go were also in the session accompanied by fellow Olympian Hidalyn Diaz (weightlifting), Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) president and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Robert Aventajado, Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) Mark Joseph, weightlifting secretary-general Roger Dullano and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

A year-long preparation, capped by a three-month training in Korea has primed up both Rivero and Go in their second shot at a possible Olympic gold following their respective failed bids in Athens four years ago.

“In our present condition, we’re ready,” said Go, the 27-year-old Santo Tomas education degree holder fighting in the men’s under-57 kg.

 Rivero made as far as the semifinals of the under-67 kg class during the Athens Games, but unfortunately lost to Elisavet Mystakidou of Greece.

Aventajado said in the same forum sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel, Brickroad gym and Aspen spa and MedCentral Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center that Rivero and Go have good chances of winning – be it a gold or medal of any color – based on the kind of training they had.

Joseph, for his part, said qualifying five Filipino swimmers to the Olympics is already an achievement enough, considering the kind of competition awaiting them in China.

“For us to have five swimmers and compete in all four events, that’s already a piece of history,” said the outspoken swimming official. “Swimming events in Beijing are going to be very tough, very competitive. Just remember that our sport doesn’t have the luxury of luck, we don’t have drawing of lots. We all rely on clockings.”

Diaz also feels the same way, proud and happy that as a 17-year-old she’ll be one of the youngest members of Team Philippines and the first RP weightlifter to make it to the Olympics since Ramon Solis.

“I’m happy to be included in the Team Philippines. It’s a big challenge,” said Diaz, a computer science student from Zamboanga, competing in the 58-kg class as a wildcard entry.

Whatever happens in the country’s Olympic campaign, Ramirez said he’s ‘very proud of the 15 Filipino athletes, who left behind their respective families to undergo vigorous training and answer the call of “ flag and country.”