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    Pressure on Obiena and Co. as PH looks to surpass four-gold Asiad haul

    Bambol confident of shattering 2018 haul in Asiad following SEA Games performance
    May 23, 2023
    EJ Obiena Bambol Tolentino

    FOLLOWING the campaign in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino expressed confidence that Team Philippines will also deliver in the next multisport conclave of the year – the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

    Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, Tolentino said the delegation is capable of surpassing the four gold medals it hauled during the Jakarta Asiad five years ago with Team Philippines having more world class athletes in Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and EJ Obiena among them.

    See Carlos Yulo eyes spot in world meet through Asian Championships

    “Siguradong malalagpasan natin ‘yun,” said Tolentino. “Dalawa lang ang katapat nun. EJ (Obiena) at (Carlos) Yulo lang ang katapat nun. May nakatago ka pang weightlifting, boxing. Mag-iiba na ang timpla ng wrestling, judo, and others.”

    The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, however, had already said that Carlos Yulo will not be able to participate in the Asiad due to 2023 World Championships to be held in Antwerp, Belgium.

    Bianca Pagdanganan

    Diaz, Yuka Saso, the Philippine women’s golf team of Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Kaye Go, and Margielyn Didal bagged gold medals in the 2018 edition. The Asian Games will be held this year after it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tolentino said Team Philippines has already improved based on the recent performance in the SEA Games where the delegation captured 58 gold medals.

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    “Malakas na ang Team Philippines. Nag-evolve na mga atleta natin. Nag-level up na. Sumasabay na tayo sa malalakas,” said Tolentino.

    Tolentino said the POC is already determining the number of athletes that will see action in the Asian Games. The Olympic body has already identified that gold and silver winners in the SEA Games are shoo-ins for the Asian Games.

    “We started with the golds and silvers. Aside from that, ‘yung mga world ranking, Asian ranking, at ‘yung mga hindi naglaro sa SEA Games like Hidilyn, Eumir (Marcial), baseball, softball, rugby sevens, and archery. Halos nasa amin na ‘yung mga numbers… More or less, lalaro sa 410 below [number of athletes],” said Tolentino.

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      Tolentino said the number of athletes identified by the POC will definitely be funded, but those who wants to compete in the Asian Games but is not under the initial criteria can go to China, but should look for their own funds.

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      While he is confident about eclipsing the mark in Jakarta, Tolentino said it will be difficult to assess where in the medal tally the Philippines will end up due to the high level of competition in the Asian Games.

      “Mahirap maghabol sa rankings habang nandiyan ang China, Japan, Korea, the Stans (former Russian republics), Middle East countries, mabibigat ‘yan,” said Tolentino.

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