20 qualifiers in Tokyo Olympics possible – Ramirez
AFTER the tremendous success of Philippine national athletes recently, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William I. Ramirez said that he believes that this is a good sign that could
medal drought in the Summer Olympic Games — a prestigious multisport event, which only happens once every four years.
Ramirez is banking his hopes on 19 year-old Leveriza-born gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo.
Yulo made history by becoming
- ercise event at the 49th FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany held last Saturday, October 12.
Four days before that, in that same event, Yulo secured his slot in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan after placing 7th in the men’s floor exercise final and ranking 18th out of 160 gymnasts in the men’s individual all- around.
Less than 48 hours after Yulo’s historic feat, Pinay featherweight Nesthy Petecio won a gold medal at the 2019 AIBA World Women’s Boxing Championships in UlanUde, Russia, to became the second Filipina world boxing champion following Josie Gabuco’s win in 2012.
Besides the two latest Filipino world champions, national pole vault athlete Ernest John Obiena became the first Filipino quali
5.81 meters in the 2019 Salto Con L’asta in Piazza Chiari, Italy last September 3.
Before securing his Olympic ticket, Obiena had previously won two gold medals in the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar last April and ruled the 2019 Summer Universiade at Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy last July.
“If we come up with 20 quali
be one of the biggest Philippine delegations to the Olympics.” said Ramirez.
Last month, two other national athletes also raised the Philippine
reigning Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial of boxing.
Diaz snatched a pair of bronze medals in the women’s 55-kilogram class of the 2019 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand to reach rank no. 3 in the world.
While Marcial, won a silver medal at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Ekaterinburg, Russia.