Judokas find godfather

Philippine judo has found a godfather in Presidential Adviser for Sports and petroleum magnate Dennis Uy.

Judo chief Dave Carter announced that Uy would be the new chair of the Philippine Judo Federation (PJF), giving the national judokas the much-needed shot in the arm to perform at the highest level in international competitions.

According to Carter, it was Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez who told him that the Phoenix Petroleum president and Davao-based businessman has agreed to help PJF strengthen its grassroots programs and produce top-caliber judokas.

“The backing that judo will get is overwhelming,’’ said Carter.

The expected financial lift from Uy is separate from the four Filipino-Japanese judokas whose training will be bankrolled by Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation for them to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Kiyomi Watanabe (63 kg) and Mariya Takahashi (70 kg) as well as Shugen Nakano (66 kg) and Kesei Nakano (73 kg) belong to the elite cast of 29 Filipino athletes handpicked by the foundation.

Uy is also chair and founder of Siklab.

Carter said there are more in the countryside just waiting to be discovered.

“Judo will become a popular sport if we can provide these areas the equipment that they need,” said Carter.