ARIANA Dormitorio has a strong chance at qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics to be held next year, according to Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (Philcycling) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino.
Tolentino said Philcycling is pinning its Olympic hopes on Dormitorio, who is one of the highly-ranked Asians in mountain bike.
The concurrent Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president said four Olympic slots will be given to the continent in the mountain bike competition and Dormitorio needs only to maintain her rankings until the end of the qualification season to make it.
“The women’s ranking in Asia, Japan is number one, second China, third Iran, and fourth si Dormitorio. Apat lang ang kukunin sa mountain bike pagdating sa slot ng Asia, ‘yung Japan hindi na kailangan kunin ‘yun kasi host sila. So aangat ngayon si Dormitorio from fourth to third. Nandoon na ‘yung chance,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino said there will be two weekend World Cup competitions in 2021 that Dormitorio needs to participate to get the much-needed Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) points for Olympic qualification.
“Talagang pasasalihin natin si Ariana doon para ma-maintain niya ‘yung ranking niya and get the top four in Asia. Ma-sustain lang ‘yun, may pag-asa,” said Tolentino.
Dormitorio is currently ranked 161st in the world, while the Philippines is No. 47 in the nation rankings.
In her most recent competition, Dormitorio finished seventh in the Asian Mountain Bike Championship last February. In the same month, she placed fifth in the HERO Dubai Cross Country marathon.
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