On centennial of PH Olympic stint, POC sets sights on gold

There is only one fitting way to celebrate the country’s 100th year of participation in the Summer Games—and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo’s gold medal feat three years ago in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Hidilyn won the country its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, and that was historic. But how about a more historic centennial Olympic campaign?’’ said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

The POC is hoping to win at least one gold medal to celebrate the country’s centennial stint.

“It’s a century of Filipino athletes’ campaign in the Olympics,’’ Tolentino said. The POC chief is in France to iron out the country’s stint in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It was also in Paris that the country first joined the quadrennial meet, with sprinter David Nepomuceno racing in the 100-meter and 200m events. He was the sole representative of the nation when the Philippines debuted in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.

With Diaz-Naranjo’s gold in the 55-kilogram class of women’s weightlifting in Tokyo and the two silver medals by boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, Team Philippines has now a total of one gold, five silvers and eight bronzes in its Olympic history.

In Paris next year, the POC hopes to bump up that tally.

“Our target is to win one gold medal. It will certainly be an added blessing if we can have more,’’ said Tolentino. INQ