BASKING in the glow of the country’s most successful Olympic campaign, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino yesterday banked on the four remaining bets — two boxers and two golfers — to boost the Philippine medal tally in the Tokyo Games.
“We’re still hoping. Mayroon pang two boxers and two golfers so God-wiling hopefully madagdagan pa ang medals. Nalampasan na nating ‘yung record sa Olympics (1932).
Nalampasan na po natin. Iyan ang alay natin sa Pilipino,” Tolentino said in an online press conference from Tokyo yesterday.
Before Tokyo, the country had won three bronze medals in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics courtesy of swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, boxer Jose Villanueva and trackster Simeon Toribio.
The country’s standard-bearers who have officially pushed the Philippines in the medal tally were weightlifter Hidylin Diaz, who won the gold last July 26 and featherweight boxer Nesthy Petecio, who settled for the silver last Tuesday after a gallant stand in the finals against Japan’s Sena Irie.
Middleweight Felix Eumir Marcial and flyweight Carlo Paalam are assured of bronze medals after beating their quarterfinals foes in impressive fashion, moving one wins away from contending for the gold medal. They see action today at the Kokugikan Arena.
Before the golden finish of Diaz, the country’s best finish in the Olympics were the silver medals of Anthony Villanueva and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco in the 1964 and 1996 Olympics, respectively.
Golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan launched their bid at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama yesterday.
Asked how the country could sustain its strong showing when the 2024 Paris Olympics comes rolling, Tolentino said he now has a guide for the next edition of the quadrennial meet based on his experience in Tokyo.
“Antayin muna natin matapos ang Olympics. Mahaba ang listahan ko but we now have a guide for future Olympics which we will announce later once this event is over,” he said.
He said the Olympic athletes had more or less met the country’s high expectations, although it could have been better.
“Mahirap naman magbuhat ng bangko, but talaga iyan ang expectations natin. Nabawasan pa nga, nabawasan pa tayo ng gymnastics (Caloy Yulo), nabawasan pa tayo ng pole vault (EJ Obiena), nabawasan pa ng boxing (Irish Magno),” he said. “Butthat’s part of the game.”
The Tagaytay congressman and Deputy House Speaker vowed not to waste the gains and momentum from the Tokyo Olympics, saying he would pressfor the resumption of actual training of the country’s athletes for next year’s international commitments.
“We already have made our representations with the IATF (the government Inter-Agency Task Force overseeing the COVID-19 pandemic) so our national athletes can continue actual training,” Tolentino said.
“Whether it is for the Asian Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games and even the Southeast Asian Games for next year, dapat matuloy ang training ng mga national athletes natin,” he said.
