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    Bambol hoping Philippine entries to Paris Olympics reaches 20

    POC chief believes more Pinoys capable of reaching Paris Games: 'Malay mo, surprise na naman ang Gilas. I-surprise ka rin ng Filipinas.'
    Oct 12, 2023
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    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino is hopeful that Team Philippines will have more athletes qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Four Filipinos have earned tickets via competitions that included the recently-concluded 19th Asian Games.

    See Eumir Marcial admits almost giving up on Paris Olympic hope

    Tolentino said the Philippines is capable of exceeding the 19 athletes that competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where Hidilyn Diaz captured a gold medal in weightlifting.

    “Kulang pa ‘yan. Dati 19 tayo. Marami pa yan. Hopefully lumagpas pa ng 20,” said Tolentino.

    Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxer Eumir Marcial earned tickets with Yulo, Finnegan, and Marcial gaining those berths just last week.

    ej obiena carlos yulo

    Yulo and Finnegan made it after their placing in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, while Marcial clinched a spot in Paris after reaching the final of the light heavyweight division of the Asian Games boxing competitions.

    Tolentino said sports like athletics, swimming, golf, cycling, weightlifting, boxing, and even the team sports of basketball and football still have ongoing qualifying tournaments for the Olympics.

    “Of course, we are playing for all the sports na puwede pa nating salihan sa qualifying. BMX, you have to compete to get more points. We still have weightlifting and boxing. Golf is playing so that they can qualify in the top 60,” said Tolentino.

    “Malay mo, surprise na naman ang Gilas. I-surprise ka rin ng Filipinas. May mga surprises ‘yan,” Tolentino said.

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      As for medals, Tolentino declined to make an assessment, for now.

      “Sa medals, hindi ko pa nafi-feel. Pagpasok ng 2024, mararamdaman na natin ‘yan,” said Tolentino.

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      Tolentino is also confident that the likes of Diaz, Yulo, Carlo Paalam, and Nesthy Petecio can also make adjustments for the Olympics.

      Diaz placed fourth in the Asian Games after going up in weight at 59kg after the 55kg division was scrapped for the Olympics.

      Yulo, meanwhile, failed to land a medal in the World Championships when he placed fourth in the floor exercise, his pet event.

      Also going up in weight, Paalam lost in the quarterfinals in the men’s 57kg division and missed the Olympic berth in the Asiad.

      Petecio, who like Paalam is a silver medalist in the Olympics, was also defeated in the women’s 57kg in the Asiad.

      “Makakapag-prepare pa si Caloy para may element of surprise. Hindi agad makita ang baraha,” said Tolentino of Yulo.

      “Mag-aadjust pa ‘yun,” said Tolentino of Diaz and Paalam. “Mahaba pa ang preparasyon. Mahirap talaga pati sa mga boxers na mag-adjust ng weight category. Mahirap ‘yun. Torture din sa atleta na mag-adjust agad. Mahaba pa, hopefully, maka-adjust silang lahat sa weight class.”

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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