POC sees more Pinoy athletes in 2021 Olympics
By Eddie Alinea of The Manila Times
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Dec 2020
Fresh from acquiring a new four-year mandate, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino vowed to focus on continuing the momentum of the country’s recent 30th Southeast Asian Games overall championship victory to prepare for the very busy 2021.
Tolentino, president of the Philippine Cycling Federation in the country’s ruling body in sports, was re-elected to a fresh four-year term following his after two and–a-half year stint succeeding Ricky Vargas of boxing who resigned after serving more than half of his term.
Tolentino told THE MANILA TIMES that foremost in his new board’s agenda are the athletes’ preparations for the XXXII Games of the Olympics, which was postponed July 23 to August 8 next year, and the 31st SEA Games scheduled in Vietnam.
“We’ve accomplished so much in our first term, kaya ang plano ng bagong board ay makagawa pa ng mas marami sa susunod na apat na taon ng ating panuinungkulan,” he vowed. “Sana sa Tokyo ay makapagpadala tayo ng our biggest but quality delegation in the history of our participation in terms of the number of athletes.”
“Apat na ang ating qualifier in next year’s Summer Games,” the Congressman from the Province of Cavite said, reminding his countrymen of boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, who have so far made it to the Games one after another last year.
“It looks like we don’t have any problems preparing Marcial, Obiena and Yulo since all of them are currently undergoing build up overseas,” Tolentino said. “What we’re concerned about is Magno na hanggang ngayon ay nasa probinsya pa training on her own through the internet.”
“Si Ms. Magno ang kaunauna-unahang babaeng boksingerong ipadadala nation sa Olimpiyada, Samakatuwid, makasaysayan ang kanyang partisipasyon para sa bansa sa Tokyo kaya kinakailangan din nating matulungan,” the POC top man reasoned out.
As of the last count, there are also some 80 plus Filipino athletes who are hopefuls to be included in the present four-athlete list and Tolentino said they, too, need to be extended all forms of assistance, financial and otherwise, for them to make the trip to the Japanese capital.
Tolentino made mention of the names of Rio Olympics silver medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz, who is a mere competition short of making it, golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, who both are almost there, too.
As well as Marcial’s teammates in the national boxing pool light-flyweight Carlo Paalam, flyweight Roden Ladon, bantamweight Ian Clark Bautista, and come backing lightweight Charlie Suarez.
And so are reigning AIBA world featherweight titlist Nesthy Petecio, and lightweight Riza Pasuit, who are also aiming a ticket each in Tokyo but are still languishing in their respective provinces unable to get appropriate training since the imposition of the Covid 19 lockdown.
“Perhaps not every Filipino knows that besides Irish’s initial stint in the Olympics women’s boxing, marami pang historical moment ang naghihintay sa atin dito sa Tokyo,” he revealed.
“One of them, gaya nga ng inilabas ninyo sa MANILA TIMES may ilang buwan na ang nakararaan, sa Tokyio rin nangyari nang ang Pilipinas ay nagpadala ng pinaka-maraming bilang ng pambansang delegasyo sa Olimpiyada,” Tolentino recalled in reference to a story that appeared in this paper last July.
In that issue of July 6, 2020, this paper reported that, it was also in Tokyo in year 1964, the first time the Japanese capital and Asia, for that matter, hosted the Games, where the Philippines had sent the most number of athletes with 64.
“No. I’m not saying that we could match that number, much more surpass it,” Tolentino said. “But to me, approximating that number is history in itself, will be recorded in the annals of the Games", the POC president stressed.
“And least we forget, it was, too, in 1964 when we were gifted by Anthony Villanueva, also a fighter, with our first of only three silver medals in the Philippines 96-year participation in the once every four-year conclave,” he emphasized.
“The more athletes we can send, the more chances we have to give our country its first Olympic gold,” he exclaimed
“So, let us make this Games a really memorable for us in terms of the history attached to it. Let’s give out athletes additional motivation by reminding them of our rich tradition they can exploit in handing the country not only its first Olympic medal, but maybe two, three, who knows?"
Besides the Olympics and the 2021 SEA Games set in Hanoi, Tolentino said the country has commitment, too, to take part in the Asian Youth Games, and the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of The Manila Times.
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