MARGIELYN Didal and Jericho Francisco Jr. try to become the country’s first skateboarders to see action in the Olympics when they seek to qualify for the Tokyo Games through the last two remaining qualifying events in the United States and Europe within a week of each other.
Both Southeast Asian Games gold medalists in 2019, Didal and Francisco are scheduled to see action in the Dew Tour scheduled May 17 to 23 at the Lauridsen Skatepark in Des Moines, Iowa and the Street World Championships slated May 30 to June 6 in Rome, Italy.
The Cebu-based Didal is now in San Diego where Francisco, a Fil-Am, currently resides, according to Philippine Sports Institute Executive Director and Philippine Sports Commission national training Director Marc Velasco.
“Before the two Olympic qualifying events, Didal and Francisco will see action in some pocket tournaments for their tune-up competitions,” Velasco said in an online session yesterday together with PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez and acting PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr.
Iroy said the PSC has earmarked P1.1 million for the stint of the two skateboarders as well as team manager Anthony Claravall, who was designated as the head coach; deputy coach Daniel Bautista, and roller sports chief Carl Sambrano.
Between the two, who also won a gold medal in her 2018 Asian Games debut in Indonesia and two mints in the 30th SEA Games, has the inside track to Tokyo where skateboarding is making its maiden appearance as an Olympic medal sport.
She is currently ranked No. 14 in the World Skate women’s street Olympic qualifying rankings, with the top 16 at the Olympic cut-off date on June 30 earning outright tickets to the Tokyo Games.
Francisco is currently ranked No. 42 in the men’s park Olympic rankings and will have a lot of scrambling to do to improve his rating.
The top three finishers in each event of the World Street Championships will also make it to the Tokyo Games, based on the Olympic qualifying rules of World Skate.
Although majority of the national athletes in the country were unable to resume actual training due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Didal was able to work out to her heart’s content in her hometown of Cebu City after Red Bull built her a skate park in nearby Soul Sierra, Cebu.
