With the 2021 Tokyo Olympics happening next year, an Ilonggo chef de mission of the Philippines is pushing for the resumption of the athletes’ training.
For Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, national players should undergo series of rigid training in order to be ready for the prestigious sporting event.
The native of Barotac Nuevo said in a Facebook live session by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), that all things would fall into place if the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases will allow the resumption of training of our national athletes.
He also shared that preparations for the Tokyo Olympics are now in “cramming” stage. “Athletes in other countries are already practicing for the upcoming tournament. Dito wala pa. If they allow professional leagues to resume, yung national athletes din sana natin,” he added.
Araneta and his team are preparing steps to push for the request of the national athletes heading into the prestigious Tokyo Olympics.
“We encouraged our players to keep on training so that they will be ready for the Olympics. The final decision is yet to be approved but we will hope for the best,” he added.
The Philippines is looking to send at least 15 Filipino athletes to the Tokyo Olympics. Araneta said that the number is ideal as there are 15 sports where Filipino athletes have a shot of qualifying.
These include rowing, canoe-kayak, archery, fencing, athletics, golf, karate, judo, triathlon, boxing, weightlifting and skateboarding. Boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena have already qualified.
Others who have a shot of making it to the Olympics are weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, track athletes Kyla Richardson and Willie Morrison, cyclists Ariana Dormitorio and Daniel Caluag, and boxer Nesthy Petecio. IMT
