20 PINOY ATHLETES SA OLYMPICS?

POSIBLENG umabot sa mahigit 20 atleta ang sumabak sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics dahil maraming Pinoy ang kasalukuyang lumalahok sa iba’t ibang qualifying competitions upang makasama sina early qualifiers pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena at gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo.

“I won’t be surprised if more than 20 athletes Filipino athletes will play in the Tokyo Olympics. Some of the athletes are seeing action in various qualifying tournaments. They have good chances making it,” sabi ni Philippine Sports Institute chief Marc Velasco Velasco.

Magmula nang lumahok ang Filipinas sa Olympics noong 1924 sa Paris, France, ang pinakaraming atletang Pinoy na naitala ay noong 1964 sa Tokyo na umabot sa 60.

Ayon kay Velasco, ang sports kung saan lumalaban ang mga Pinoy sa qualifying ay ang athletics, weightlifting, boxing, judo, taekwondo, at skateboarding.

“Marami tayong mga atleta na lumalaban sa qualifaying at ang may pinakarami ay ang athletics, boxing at taekwondo. Sana palarin sila,” pahayag ni Velasco.

Hindi sinabi ni Velasco ang bilang ng mga atleta sa athletics, boxing at taekwondo na kasalukuyang lumalaban sa qualifying tournaments.

“I do not have the exact number of athletes competing in various qualifying events. My estimate is more than 20 athletes,” ani Velasco.

Kabilang sa mga ito sina Brazil Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio at Filipino-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe.

Pansamantalang umu­­wi sa bansa ang Olympic candidates para tulungan ang Pinas na kunin ang overall championship sa katatapos na 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“Umuwi sila para tulungan ang bansa na kunin ang overall championship,” ani Velasco.

“After the SEA Games, the focus of attention of PSC is to take care of athletes taking part in the qualifying in their respective sports. PSC will extend enough financial assistance to the athletes and hopefully they would make it,” dagdag ni Velasco. CLYDE MARIANO