Top sports officials hope to send biggest PH delegation to Tokyo Olympics

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s top sports officials are convinced that more Filipino athletes will wear the national colors in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“The signs are really encouraging. I won’t be surprised if we will have more Olympic qualifiers in Tokyo,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Just three weeks ago, Pinoy athletes shone on the world stage with gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo earning the distinction as the first Filipino world champion and Nesthy Petecio duplicating Yulo’s achievement in women’s boxing.

“This is a good sign that gives us more hope to finally capture the elusive Olympic gold medal,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez.

For almost a century since the Philippines began competing in the Summer Games, no Filipino has ever brought home a gold medal.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz managed to snatch a silver medal in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, ending a 20-year medal drought after boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco seized a similar medal color in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Yulo earned the trip to Tokyo and joined pole vaulter EJ Obiena as the first two Filipino qualifiers in the Olympics.

Diaz is expected to suit up in her fourth straight Olympics together with Margielyn Didal of skateboarding and Kiyomi Watanabe of judo.

Also vying for Olympic spots are Petecio and fellow boxer Eumir Marcial, who pocketed a silver medal in the recent Aiba world championships, as well as golfer Yuka Saso.

“We are looking at around 20 qualifiers. If we can come up with that number, that will be the biggest delegation that our country will ever have in the Olympics,” said Tolentino.

The optimism is understandable now that the Olympics have added several sports where Filipinos can excel such as baseball, softball, karate, roller sport, climbing, surfing, golf and rugby union.

“The PSC is throwing its all-out support in our Olympic quest. We are not only hoping and praying, we are expecting that our athletes will deliver,” said Ramirez.