More PH bets on track for Tokyo slots

The country remains on track to putting as many athletes in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as possible.

The Asian-Oceanian Olympic boxing qualifiers finally gets underway in Amman, Jordan, a month after the event was postponed and relocated due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The qualifiers were originally scheduled in coronavirus hot spot Wuhan, China.

The Philippines’ bid will be led by women’s world featherweight champion Nesthy Petecio and world middleweight silver medalist Eumir Felix Marcial.

The other Filipino boxers eyeing a trip to Tokyo Olympics are flyweight Carlo Paalam, featherweight Ian Clark Bautista, light welterweight James Palicte, and female boxers Irish Magno (flyweight) and Riza Pasuit (lightweight).

Three Filipino golfers, meanwhile, are currently in the running for Tokyo berths. The top 60 men and women in the world will qualify for the Olympics.

Miguel Tabuena is currently at No. 59 in the men’s class while Yuka Saso (No. 50) and Dottie Ardina (No. 51) are also in the running.

According to Bones Floro, National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general, the three golfers, who are all based overseas, will play in several more tournaments over the next three months in a bid to keep their places. —REPORTS FROM MARK GIONGCO AND JUNE NAVARRO