Caluag joins PH Olympic squad

DANIEL Caluag became only the eighth member of Team Philippines for the London Olympics after making it to the men’s BMX competition through the recent UCI BMX World Championships in Birmingham, England.

The 25-year-old Filipino-American amassed enough ranking points to qualify for the London Games, according to PhilCycling president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino yesterday.

The national cycling chief said Caluag’s performance made him among the world’s top 60.

“Hopefully, we will get the attention we deserve and boost the morale of our rider,” Tolentino said.

Philippine Olympic team chief of mission Manny Lopez confirmed the qualification of Caluag—a four-time BMX top pro in the United States whose parents came from Bulacan—after receiving an e-mail from the London Organizing Committee for Olympic Games.

“We know (Caluag) will be a big asset to our small group,” said Lopez, noting that Caluag is the only Asian to qualify in the event.

The seven others who have made it to the PH squad are swimmers Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi, boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, judoka Tomohiko Hoshina, skeet shooter Brian Rosario, and athletics’ Marestella Torrres and Rene Herrera.

Tolentino said a huge field of 175 riders saw action in the tough Birmingham World Championship.

“(Caluag) has been in the country three times already but he has never received anything from the government,” said Tolentino, adding he will ask the Philippine Sports Commission to provide his rider the allowance reserved for “elite athletes” of at least P25,000 a month. “Perhaps this is the time to recognize him. He is not a wild card entry, he qualified on his own merit.”