Pinoy jins seek four Rio berths

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) is eyeing to send a full complement of four qualified jins to the Rio Olympics after getting shut out the last time out.

PTA chief executive officer Sung Chon Hong said the association wants to take advantage of the country’s hosting of the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament on April 19-20 to boost the chances of two male and two female bets to make it to Rio. The finalists in each of the eight weight divisions in the tourney will qualify.

“Of course, I want four (qualified jins) maximum,” Hong told The STAR.

An estimated 300 to 400 jins and officials from all over the continent are expected to come over for the tourney, which will stake 16 berths to the 2016 Olympiad.

“Well, it’s 50-50 (chance) because this is a tough tournament, that’s why I’m hosting it.  I hope to get four, if not, maybe three,” said Hong.

The PTA is still in the process of selecting the four Olympic aspirants from its vast talent pool.

“All our athletes are very qualified but then it also depends on the luck of draw,” he said.

Phl last sent four jins to the Olympiad in the sport’s debut in 2000 with Roberto Cruz, Donnie Geisler, Eva Ditan and Jasmine Strachan carrying the country’s colors. The four earned their places after a strong showing in the Asian qualifiers hosted by Phl at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in 1999. 

Geisler, Tshomlee Go and Toni Rivero took the cudgels in 2004 then Go and Rivero returned for another stint four years later.

No one qualified in London as Hong lamented that the jins didn’t have much time to recover and regain optimum strength as the qualifying meet was held just a week after their competition in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.

For the hosting of the 2016 qualifiers, Hong said they are looking at the Grand Ball Room of Marriott Hotel Manila and Cuneta Astrodome as possible venue.

The Asian Olympic Qualifiers will actually be the first of three big tournaments the PTA is hosting inside five days. After the qualifiers, the Asian Taekwondo Championships and the Asian Para Taekwondo Championships will be staged in Manila.

Hong said they need an estimated P10-million for the hosting.