POC: Premium on bets with best olympic chances

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will give more attention to athletes who have the brightest chance of making it to the Tokyo Olympics, with the agency in constant communication with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) so that they will be ready to support these bets when the new schedule of the qualifying events are posted.

“We have to shift our focus on helping athletes who would most likely qualify. I hope the other athletes wouldn’t be offended,’’ said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who didn’t really identify those bets.It was the parallel stand of the PSC, which announced its commitment to support athletes bound for the Tokyo Summer Games next year despite the agency’s diminishing financial reserves due to the government’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

“We’re discussing with the PSC the continuous training of our athletes, especially those who will participate in qualifying tournaments,” said Tolentino, also the president of PhilCycling.

Diaz, Didal

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting has a high probability of booking a spot in Tokyo as well as skateboarder Margielyn Didal and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.

A total of 62 Filipino athletes from 18 sports actually had legitimate shots at the Games before the health crisis grounded sports all over the world to a halt and forced the International Olympic Committee and Japan organizers to postpone the global quadrennial Games.

At present, only four Filipinos have already qualified—pole vaulter EJ Obiena, boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno and world champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo.

“We’re waiting for the opening of all events and tournaments for the qualifying,” Tolentino said.

In cycling, the Cavite representative said BMX rider Daniel Caluag and mountain biker Ariana Dormitorio were given a ray of hope when their respective qualifying races were scrapped.

“If the qualifying races don’t happen this year, it will definitely push through next year so we have to prepare for that,” Tolentino said. “Hopefully by that time, international travel restrictions have been lifted.” INQ