Officials confident more bets will qualify in Rio

The number of Filipino athletes competing in the Rio Olympics could reach as many as 15 in the event boxing delivers the heavy blows and a few others step up to the plate heading into the final days of qualification.

Chief of mission Joey Romasanta said yesterday that boxing looks primed for a strong showing in the last qualifying event next month, while swimming, golf, athletics and weightlifting remain in contention for slots to the Aug. 5 to 21 sportsfest.

So far, the Philippines has seven qualifiers in Eric Cray and Marestela Torres of athletics, Rogen Ladon (light flyweight) and Charly Suarez (lightweight) of boxing, Ian Lariba of table tennis, Kirstie Elaine Alora of taekwondo and Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting.

Waiting on the wings are Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que of golf, Jasmine Alkhaldi, Jessie Lacuna, Josh Hall and Roxanne Yu of swimming, Mario Fernandez and Felix Eumir Marcial of boxing, Kyla Richardson and EJ Obiena of athletics and Nestor Colonia of weightlifting.

Romasanta points to Fernandez (bantamweight) and Marcial (junior welterweight) as solid contenders when the Final World Olympic Qualifying takes place from June 14-26 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Tabuena and Que are currently within the top 60 in the world (Olympic rankings) but Romasanta feels that Tabuena has the inside track owing to his lofty rating (37th). Que is currently at 52nd spot and has to keep himself busy and competitive to maintain his standing.