THE PHILIPPINES has finally earned official confirmation for two of its entries in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Olympic chief of mission Joey Romasanta yesterday said the International Boxing Association (Aiba) notified the Philippine Olympic Committee that boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez have already qualified for the Summer Games scheduled Aug. 5 to 21.
“This is the first official notice that we got telling us that our athletes have qualified,” said Romasanta, also the POC first vice president.
He said the POC has yet to receive confirmation for Fil-Am hurdler Eric Cray and female lifter Hidilyn Diaz, who supposedly earned an Olympic berth after a podium finish during the world championship in Texas last year.
Cray surpassed the Olympic 110-meter hurdles qualifying standard in the US last year.
Both Ladon and Suarez finished second in the Asian Olympic qualifier in China recently.