Pagunsan gears up for Olympic bid
Juvic Pagunsan returned to his base in Japan Saturday, a bit frustrated with a couple of missed chances to toughen up for his Olympic debut due to stormy weather back home but remained bullish on the mere thought of making a rare appearance in the world’s premier sporting conclave.
It’s a once-in-four years chance to represent the country in the Summer Games and Pagunsan, who has anchored many national teams during his checkered amateur career, won’t ever miss the rare opportunity to step onto the sport’s biggest stage and slug it out with some of the world’s best beginning 29 July at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama.
An extra rest (before the Olympics) should help me.
Like the rest of the 19-man Philippine delegation, the reticent Bacolod shotmaker would be aiming for the gold that has eluded the country since 1924, no matter how slim his chance is in a powerpacked 60-player field.
Despite his weather-interrupted buildup, the former Asian Tour No. 1 said he’s ready and in top form, even hinting at taking a time-out in physical training in the next four days to better prepare for the event. “An extra rest (before the Olympics) should help me,” he said. The Games, held back by a year due to the global health crisis, kicked off in subdued rites Friday with tennis grand slam winner Naomi Osaka setting the cauldron on the Mount Fuji stage alight.
It capped a four-hour ceremony at the vast but near-empty Japan National Stadium, which International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach promised would offer a “moment of hope” in a Covid-troubled world.
Pagunsan is one of the thousands of athletes seeking to swing that “slim hope” into a glorious performance on the fairways of Kasumigaseki, one that could merit him at least a shot for the coveted gold.
But to aspire is one thing. Achieving it is another, especially given a set of rivals that boasts of varying characters and styles but with one common value so key in the sport — power.
At 43, Pagunsan doesn’t see himself engaging the big guns, particularly Bryson De Chambeau of the United States and Spain’s Jon Rahm, power-for-power.
But the Filipino ace, hopes to make up for the drawback with accuracy and consistency in iron play and short game.
He also said putting will be key to any player’s gold medal bid.
Meanwhile, Yuka Saso, who will be spearheading the country’s drive in women’s play set from 4 to 7 August, is holed up in her hotel near the golf venue, wary but upbeat of her chances against practically the same world class field she had humbled and upstage in her major breakthrough in the US Women’s Open last month.