Blu Girls earn shot at 2020 Olympics berth

The path to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opened up for the Philippine women’s softball team.

That is after the squad, collectively called as the Blu Girls, won silver medal in the Asian Championships on Monday in Chinese Taipei.

“I’m so excited about this team and I think they have a legitimate chance of being one of the six teams who will play in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said softball chief Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The feat allowed the Blu Girls to qualify for the Asian Games in Indonesia and the World Championships in Chiba, Japan, both slated next year.

The Philippines’ performance in the Asiad and the Worlds will determine its chances of Tokyo bid.

The country was ranked No. 16 in the world entering the Asian Championships but is expected to barge into the top 10 after the silver medal feat.

The Blu Girls fell to World No. 1 Japan (7-0) in the final, but that was after they demolished World No. 9 Chinese Taipei (5-3) and World No. 6 China (4-3).

Before embarking for the Asians, the Blu Girls notched victories over World No. 3 Canada and World No. 4 Australia.