POC, PSC upbeat about gold medal chances in Tokyo despite cancellation threat over virus

The Philippines’ Carlos Yulo competes in the Men’s Gymnastics Artistic Vault during the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER PHOTO/Sherwin Vardeleon

MANILA, Philippines — Under threat of being shelved due to the rapid transmission of a worldwide contagion, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is seen as a showcase that could feature the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez acknowledged the likelihood of Filipino athletes ending the search for the coveted commodity in Tokyo.

“Going to Tokyo, our dream of getting the gold can become a reality,” said Ramirez, who was recently named Philippine Sportswriters Association Executive of the Year for leading Team Philippines to the overall title of the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.

It was readily echoed by Tolentino, the POC chief who marshalled the leaders of the 56 national sports associations who drove their athletes toward success in the SEAG.

“The time is ripe for us to finally win that gold medal. You can see that our athletes are really focused on getting it,” said Tolentino.

The biggest threat to deny such victory, perhaps, is the global pandemic of the deadly COVID-19, which has infected over 100,000 people in 90 countries.

“The latest message of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is they are on target and focused on the Tokyo Olympics, so I think we will pray that everything will just be fine,” said Ramirez.

Both top sports officials will announce eight other Filipino Olympic qualifiers along with Team Philippines chef de mission Nonong Araneta in a press conference on Tuesday.

Early Olympic qualifiers EJ Obiena (pole vault) and Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) will join them in the Tokyo quadrennial Summer Games scheduled July 24-August 9.

“We are hopeful and positive that more Filipino athletes will make it with four months to go. We want to have more qualifiers than what we had during the previous Olympics,”nsaid Tolentino, a Cavite City representative and PhilCycling president.

Team Philippines normally sends a maximum delegation of 15 athletes or less during the previous editions of the Summer Games.

Aside from Obiena, Yulo and the eight other athletes whose qualification will be made known Tuesday, lifters Hidilyn Diaz and Kristel Macrohon, boxers Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial and skateboarder Margielyn Didal have been augured to secure spots for Tokyo.