By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is targeting to surpass the 13 qualified Olympics athletes last 2016 in Rio de Janeiro as more Filipinos will vie for spots in the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT).
POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is confident that the 2021 batch of Olympic athletes will have more chances in booking a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.
In a recently concluded online forum by the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association, Tolentino said: “Definitely malalampasan ang 13 since we have already 9.”
One of the PH delegations who are still fighting for spots to qualify in Tokyo is the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 men’s squad who are currently in Graz, Austrtia.
Currently, the lineup of CJ Perez, Moala Tautuaa, Santi Santillan, and Joshua Munzon still has a chance of making it to the next round despite falling 0-2 early in the first leg.
Golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, karatekas Junna Tsukii, Jamie Lim, and Joane Orbon are all scheduled to participate in their remaining OQTs and are hoping to have strong finishes to qualify in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo,Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Hidilyn Diaz, Cris Nievarez, and Kurt Barbosa are already preparing for the Olympics.
