POC prexy raps Que, Ardina for Rio no-go

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee chief Jose Cojuangco Jr. finds it quite odd that an athlete would reject an offer to play in the Olympics.

“The entire delegation will go there and you’ve decided to stay. I can’t understand that,” said Cojuangco. “It’s the biggest and toughest sports competition in the world and you’ve decided not to participate.”
Cojuangco was referring to Filipino golfers Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina, who both opted to skip the coming Rio De Janeiro Games.

The Zika virus scare in Brazil has forced Que, a three-time Asian Tour champion, and former five-time US Kids champion Ardina to forgo the greatest sports gathering in the world on Aug. 5 to 21.

“They forget the honor of being there for the national team. When you go there, you represent the Philippines. That’s how important it is,” said Cojuangco.

By qualifying to the Olympics, Cojuangco said an athlete can already be considered as one of the best athletes in the world.

Que, who wound up 59th in the men’s Olympic rankings, cited the health risks the Zika virus could bring to his family while Ardina, campaigning in the Symetra Tour the past three years, also declined for health reasons.

Fellow golfer Miguel Tabuena, however, refused to be cowed and joined the 29-man Philippine delegation, including 12 athletes, which is set to leave on Saturday.

Olympic chef de mission Joey Romasanta said Ardina has been confirmed by both Rio organizers and the International Golf Federation as an Olympic qualifier.

Three of the top four golfers in the world led by No. 1 Jason Day of Australia pulled out of the Olympics.