With sights set on Tokyo 2020, PH skateboarding holds regional qualifiers

Gold medallist Margielyn Didal. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines isn’t just looking at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which the country will host, it’s setting its sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines Inc., and Go for Gold have partnered up to find the best skateboarders that will represent the Philippines in the 2019 SEA Games and, if possible, in Tokyo.

Monty Mendigora, the president of the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines, announced on Wednesday that the start of the regional championships would start with the Luzon leg on March 23-24 at Robinsons Mall in Novaliches.

Skateboarding chief Monty Mendigoria (right) presents a limited edition skateboard to sports patron and Go For Gold Philippines head Jeremy Go. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“We will look for the best skaters in the regionals,” said Mendigora. “The top three participants from the regionals will get a chance to prove their worth in the national SEA Games qualifying championship.”

The Visayas leg would be held in Cebu on April 6-7 while the Mindanao leg is set in General Santos on May 25-26.

The top three skaters from the three regional legs will then compete in the National SEA Games qualifier in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Aug. 24-25.

The Visayas leg, though, is the highlight of the qualifiers with 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal expected to appear on the competition.

“We feel that Margie and the skateboarding team will become our bright lights in the 2020 Olympics, and hopefully they can bring home our first Olympic gold medal,” said Go for Gold godfather Jeremy Go.