The Philippines has been chasing a gold medal in the Olympics for ages, and if Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez would be right in his predictions, that very long drought will be snapped in grand style come the Tokyo Games in July.
For Ramirez, Team PH will not win one, but at least two gold medals, in Japan.
Ramirez admitted that his forecast is hardly backed by science, but consistent signs of victory are on the wall with the continuous progress of Filipino athletes on the global scale.
“I don’t have a scientific basis to present, but our athletes have proven in international competitions that they can,’’ said Ramirez. “It goes to show that our chances are big.’’
Ramirez cited the streak of medals that weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has won since the silver in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
The PSC chief likewise pointed out to gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, who is the reigning world champion in the floor exercise of men’s artistic gymnastics, and the promise that boxer Eumir Marcial has been showing.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena also has a lot of promise after winning medals in Europe against Olympic-grade rivals. INQ