PH golden skateboarder Didal eyes Tokyo Olympics berth

Gold medalist Margielyn Didal of the Philippines gestures during the victory ceremony for the women’s skateboard street event during the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang on August 29, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN

Margielyn Didal is not stopping with just an Asian Games triumph.

After her gold medal run in the women’s street skateboarding, Didal is eyeing the biggest sporting stage in the world—the Olympics.

“I want to earn qualifying points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Didal.

The 19-year-old skateboarder will have to compete in World Skate sanctioned events during the Olympic qualifying period from Jan.1, 2019 to May May 31, 2020 to earn points as part of the Olympic guidelines.

There are 20 slots for each of the four events, men and women’s park and street competitions, with a total of 80 participants competing.

Japan, as the host nation, is reserved one slot for each of the events.

Didal and the other of the world’s skaters will have their first crack at the qualifying points in the Street League Skateboarding World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in January.

And Skateboard Association of the Philippines, Inc. president Monty Mendigoria wants Didal to compete in Rio to have a shot to earn the most number of points.

“While there will be also Olympic qualifiers in Asia, we are lining up Margie to compete in Rio so she can earn a maximum of ranking points,” said Mendigoria.

Didal is set to receive P6 million from the Philippine government as an incentive for winning an Asian Games gold medal and the Cebu native said she will invest her earnings into a family business.

“Maybe we will put up a family business because I won’t be able to go skateboarding all the time,” said Didal who will also be the country’s flag bearer in the closing ceremonies on Sunday.

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