FILE – Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
Filipino tennis prodigy Alex Eala has been inserted into the long list of athletes that the Philippine Olympic Committee initially drafted for the 19th Asian Games.
“I’ve already put the name of Alex. She will play for the individual (gold),’’ said POC president Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino on Tuesday at the PSA forum held at the Philippine Sports Commission building inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The teen ace who celebrated her 18th birthday on Tuesday has been competing in the international tennis circuit mostly in Europe.
Ranked No. 262 in the world, Eala is priming up for an International Tennis Federation tournament in Monastir, Tunisia after booking a spot in the main draw.
She will join Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales in the Asian Games set on Sept. 23-Oct. 8 in Hangzhou, China.
“They (Alcantara and Gonzales) delivered the gold in men’s doubles (during the SEA Games), so definitely they will represent us in the individual (event) as well as Alex,’’ said Tolentino.
The POC has set a criteria for the Asian Games where the gold and silver medalists in the recent 32nd SEA Games have been assured of slots.
According to Tolentino, the initial lineup for the Asian Games has 408 athletes from 40 sports, the bulk of which are made up of team sports.
“Alex can choose who between them can be her partner in the doubles,’’ added Tolentino.
Team Philippines fifth overall in the SEA Games staged by Cambodia with 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals.