POC Chief: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino is optimistic that the number of Filipino athletes qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will surpass the 19 athletes who competed in Tokyo in 2021.
Filipino athletes made history at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz winning the country's first-ever gold medal. Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam secured silver medals, and Eumir Marcial brought home a bronze, marking a significant achievement for the Philippines.
So far, the Philippines has 15 qualified athletes for the Paris Games.
Boxing has the largest delegation, with five qualifiers: Paalam, Petecio, Marcial, and newcomers Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas. They will be joined by four gymnasts—Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo—and three weightlifters, Elreen Ando, John Ceniza, and Vanessa Sarno. Additionally, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, rower Joanie Delgado, and fencer Sam Catantan have also qualified.
Tolentino is confident that more athletes will qualify in the coming weeks. Ali Sulit, president of the Philippine Judo Federation, has confirmed that Fil-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe has clinched her spot, pending an official announcement later this month.
"We have a sure qualifier in Kiyomi Watanabe. The qualifying for judo will end [in the] month of June," said Sulit. "We will announce Kiyomi's qualifications soon." Watanabe was one of the country's flag bearers at the Tokyo Games.
Tolentino also expects qualifiers from athletics, with US-based hurdler Lauren Hoffman and Spain-based John Cabang poised to qualify through their rankings. Other Filipino track and field athletes are still competing in Olympic qualifiers.
"Marami pang papasok sa athletics, minimum of four to five athletes," said Tolentino. "The International Federation of Athletics will announce the qualifiers in the first week of July."
"Definitely, we will surpass 19 [athletes] because we have qualifiers from skateboarding, swimming, and golf," he added. "We will also have a qualifier from cycling. I'm waiting for cycling to announce if our qualifier will be from mountain bike or BMX." Tolentino is also the head of the country's cycling federation.
Filipino athletes will leave on June 22 for their training venue in France. The Paris Olympics will open on July 26.
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