Now with nine qualifiers, sports officials are upbeat that a medal in the London Olympics is forthcoming.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine chef de mission Manny Lopez both agreed yesterday that the country could finally break a long medal slump in the global summer games starting late next month.
Cojuangco was particularly excited on the medal hopes of the latest three additions—judoka Tomohiko Hoshina, BMX rider Daniel Caluag and lifter Hidilyn Diaz.
“All of them have chances of winning a medal,” said Cojuangco. “Perhaps a little bit of luck and we won’t end up zero this time.”
The Philippines hasn’t seen a medal of any color in the Olympics since boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco brought home a silver from the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Caluag, a four-time No.1 rider in the United States, the Tokyo-based Hoshina and world No. 9 Diaz joined the Olympic roster on the strength of solid performances in their respective qualifying tournaments.
“It’s how they train, the mind set and the condition they’re in that could spell the difference,” said Lopez, also the first vice president of the POC.
President Aquino will grace the send-off ceremony for the nine athletes on June 25 at the Blue Leaf in Taguig.