Keon pins hopes on Yulo in Tokyo

MANILA, Philippines — For former Project: Gintong Alay chief Mike Keon, Tokyo-bound gymnast Caloy Yulo has the best chance to deliver the country its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo next year.

“I saw him (Yulo) perform. He was excellent,” said Keon yesterday when interviewed during Noli Eala’s Power and Play sports program over Radio Singko 92.3 News FM.

“I believe he has a strong chance of winning our first Olympic gold,” added the sports official.

The 65-year-old Keon, who is currently mayor of Laoag City, also sees a strong potential in boxing and other martial arts as well as weightlifting in winning the elusive gold for the Philippines.

“Boxing, of course. We have Manny Pacquiao (as role model). We should be able to win gold in boxing. Martial arts in different divisions and weightlifting, too,” said Keon.

He said he sees a lot of talent nowadays and making them produce bigger results would need putting them in an environment where there is an opportunity to excel.

“I really believe we have the talent. We just have to get our act together,” he said.

During his time in the ‘80s, Keon has produced a lot of world-class athletes, including former Asia’s “Sprint Queen” Lydia de Vega-Mercado and two-time Olympian Isidro del Prado.

The “Miracle of 91,” when the country won 91 golds and came up a mint short of emerging as Southeast Asian Games overall champions, was accredited to Keon, who helped draw the blueprint for the campaign.