POC dangles P1M more for every mint
AT least four gold medals, but who knows?
Philippine Olympic Committee president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is hoping Pinoy athletes could deliver a minimum of four mints – or more – in the 19th Asian Games set Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 and the 4th Asian Para Games from Oct. 22 to 28 in Hangzhou, China.
“Minimum of four, para bawi lang sa last Asian games,” Tolentino said yesterday during the Philippine Sports Commission’s send-off ceremony for the athletes and para athletes at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.
“Kaya pa rin (surpass the four-gold haul in 2018). Nandiyan pa naman ang boxers, si EJ (Ernest John Obiena), may nakatago pang track, may swimming, weightlifting, even without Caloy (Yulo).
“The boxers would also be extra motivated kasi qualifying ang Asian Games for the Olympics. Hahataw sila,” he added.
Nearly 400 Pinoy athletes will seek sporting glory in the quadrennial showpiece event in 40 disciplines.
Tolentino also announced that pole vault star EJ Obiena and reigning skateboarding champion Margielyn Didal will be the Team Philippines’ flag bearers in the opening rites of the Asiad.
“The flag bearer of the Philippine delegation for females is Margielyn Didal who got (a) gold in the last Asian Games. For the male, multi-medalist EJ Obiena,” he said.
PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann urged Team Philippines to show its true worth, saying: “Kayo ang buhay na patunay na ang bawat pangarap ay natutupad sa sipag, dedikasyon, at tiyaga. The entire Philippines stands beside you, cheering you every step of the way.
“Have faith in yourself, trust in your training, and never forget the values that defined our nation: excellence, resilience, and the Filipino spirit. Bring home the gold, but more importantly, bring home the pride and unity that you have fostered among us all.”
Also gracing the event were Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, PSC Commissioners Bong Coo, Fritz Gaston, Edward Hayco, and Walter Torres, and national sports association chiefs.
Under the law, Asian Games gold winners will get P2 million, silver medalists P1 million and bronze P400,000.
Tolentino sweetened the pot, saying an additional P1 million cash incentive for every gold medal will be given by the POC.
A total of 271 Pinoy athletes competed in the last Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang five years ago where the country wound up with four gold, two silver and 15 bronze medals for 19th overall.
Capturing the mints were golfer Yuka Saso (women’s individual and team events), weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (53kg) and Didal.
Aside from Diaz, Didal, and Obiena, Fil-Canadian tanker Kayla Sanchez and boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial, who all won medals in the last Tokyo Olympics, are expected to deliver gold medals.
