Despite the global pandemic which forces the public to adapt to the new normal, Ilongga mountain bike rider Ariana Dormitorio makes sure she’s productive at home.
The Ilongga rider trains rigidly as she could add up to the list of Filipinos competing in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) confirmed this as Dormitorio might join BMX rider Daniel Caluag in the said prestigious event.
PhilCycling MTB and BMX commission head Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez said that both Dormitorio and Caluag are still in striking distance as they are in the top five of the UCI-Asia rankings in their respective events.
The pride of Iloilo is currently at fourth spot in the Women’s Olympic Cross Country Asian rankings, just 70 points behind the third running Iran and 90 points off the second placer China. A Japanese rider is at no. 1 spot.
On the other hand, Caluag aims for his second consecutive Olympics stint after qualifying in the London Olympics, sits at fifth place among Asian riders in the BMX category.
“Ariana and Daniel must perform well in the two remaining Olympic Qualifiers next year. They are still within striking distance to make it to the Olympics,” shared Rodriguez.
If Dormitorio and Caluag will not make it to the qualifiers, Rodriguez said that another option for the two’s qualification is if any of the riders ahead of them could not compete in the Olympics.
Four Filipino athletes have secured berths in the Tokyo Games – world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, and boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno.IMT
