PH looking to send at least 15 athletes to Tokyo Olympics

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is looking to send at least 15 Filipino athletes to the Tokyo Olympics.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ chef de mission to the Summer Games Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that the number is ideal as there are 15 sports where Filipino athletes have a shot of qualifying.

“There are 15 sports. These include rowing, canoe-kayak, archery, fencing, athletics, golf, karate, judo, triathlon, boxing, weightlifting (and) skateboarding,” said Araneta. “So 15 [athletes] is a good figure.”

Boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena have already qualified.

2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal, who is the no.14 women’s skateboarder in the world, has a chance to qualify for the Tokyo Games if she maintains her spot in the Top 20.

Others who have a shot of making it to the Olympics are weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, track athletes Kyla Richardson and Willie Morrison, cyclists Ariana Dormitorio and Daniel Caluag, and boxer Nesthy Petecio.

Araneta said he’s been communicating with the country’s sports federations so they can submit to the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases the training guidelines intended for Olympic hopefuls.

He added that officials are expecting Olympic qualifiers to resume in 2021 but he wants the athletes to prepare as early as possible.

“We want them to train for the Olympics first, and hopefully they can qualify,” said Araneta.