DEPUTY Speaker Mikee Romero has lauded the inclusion of shooter Jayson Valdez to next month’s Tokyo Olympics, saying the time has finally come for him to make a difference.
“I have known him since his teenage days because he was part of my youth team when I was still the president of the shooting association. So happy Jayson finally fulfilled his dream as an athlete,” said the 1-Pacman representative. “I wish him and the rest of Team PH the best of luck.”
Having seen some of Valdez’s would-be rivals when he accompanied the team to the 2012 London Games, Romero advised Valdez, 25, to stay focused and determined on his goals.
“Since he’ll be playing for flag and country he has to give everything he’s got and should not be intimidated by his rivals,” added Romero. “But I know this young man, he’s gutsy.
Valdez, along with PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, will grace the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum today.
“Pinoy tayo, dapat nating ipakita sa buong mundo na we have one big fighting heart,” added Romero, who competed twice for the national shotgun team in the World Cup apart from bankrolling the Philippine men’s basketball team that won the gold medal in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.
Romero said Valdez will be up against a bevy of top European shooters in the men’s air rifle 10-meter contest, including three-time champion Niccolo Camprian of Italy.
Believing this year is the country’s best chance to end its long search for the elusive Olympic gold, Romero called on the country’s sports leaders to give Valdez all the support he needs given his limited time to prepare and chase his Olympic dream.
Valdez became the 12th Filipino athlete to qualify to the Tokyo games — thanks to the quota system implemented by the Munich-based International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).
The last Filipino shooter to compete in the Olympics was Brian Rosario during the 2012 London Games.
The 11 other Filipino qualifiers are boxers Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa, rower Cris Nievarez and weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Erleen Ann Ando.
