IF Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino can have his way, he wants former world champion Carlos Yulo and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines to prioritize the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games rather than the World Championships in Belgium.
The Asian Games, which is not a qualifier for the Paris Olympics in 2024, will be held on Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 while the Antwerp World meet is set on Sept. 30 to Oct. 8.
Tolentino said the Hangzhou Games gives Yulo more opportunities for gold medals in artistic gymnastics because most of his top Asian rivals will be in the World meet.
“It’s going to be a win-win for Team Philippines in the Asian Games because all the gymnastics powerhouse countries will be competing in the World Championships,” Tolentino said in last week’s POC general assembly in Paranaque. “So Yulo has a strong opportunity of sweeping all the events in Hangzhou.”
GAP president Cynthia Carrion Norton said early this year that Yulo, a former world champion in floor exercise and vault, will be in Antwerp to seek a slot in the Paris Olympics.
Norton attended the general assembly and said the GAP will evaluate the suggestion of Tolentino, which was supported by the POC members.
Tolentino said that Yulo will also reap a bounty in terms of financial incentives if he wins gold or another medal in Hangzhou. The government’s incentive program awards P2 million for a gold, P1 million for a silver and P.4 million for a bronze in the Asiad.
Yulo has been included in the “entry by name” list consisting of 426 athletes that the POC sent to the Hangzhou organizers. He earned a berth to Antwerp by virtue of his strong performance in previous International Gymnastics Federation World Cup competitions.
“All the members of the POC general assembly are begging for gymnastics to consider playing in the Asian Games,” Tolentino said. “We have already asked them to look for other Olympic qualifying events. Belgium is just the first Olympic qualifying and there are many.
“I believe he can get all the medals, especially gold in the Asian Games. At the same time, the incentives he can get there are higher,” Tolentino said. “And based on research, there are more other Olympic qualifiers by next year, which is not that difficult, so all POC members are begging for gymnastics to let Caloy play.”
The other Olympic qualification tournaments are the 2024 Apparatus World Cup series from January to March and the 2024 continental championships in April and May.
The Philippine is hoping to land more gold medals in Hangzhou to surpass the four won in Jakarta and Palembang in 2018. One of the gold medals the country expects to win is in pole vault, courtesy of Asian pole vault record holder Ernest John “EJ” Obiena.
