Team PH kasado na

KUMPIYANSA si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William” Butch” Ramirez na ang pangkat ng Filipino athletes na sasabak sa Tokyo Olympics ay higit na mas preparado kapag nagsimula na ang Games sa Biyernes, Hulyo 23.

Sinabi ni Ramirez na mahigit sa P2 billion taxpayers money ang nagastos para sa training, foreign exposures at iba pang expenses ng atleta simula 2016.

“The 19 athletes we have, sa pananaw ko, this is the strongest and most prepared (contingent),” Wika ni Ramirez sa ginanap na online press conference kahapon.

“That’s why malaki ang expectations ng taong bayan kasi people’s money ang nagastos diyan. At hindi lang maliit na pera, but that is the way to prepare the athletes (for the Olympics).”

Si Ramirez ay nakaiskedyul na lumipad patungong Japan sa Huwebes, July 22 isang araw bago ang Opening Ceremony ng Tokyo Olympics.

Isinasaalang-alang ni Ramirez na ang pagpunta sa Tokyo ay “high risk” pero sinabi nya ito ay hindi malilimutan ng Team Philippines na may posibilidad na masilo ang mailap na unang gintong medalya sa Olympics.

“Going there is not a fiesta, it’s a high risk. I’m praying and hoping that none of the athletes get infected. It’s not easy going, I’m monitoring (the situation of COVID-19 in Japan),” Sambit ni Ramirez.

“It’s historic, as presiding chairman, I might be a witness of the first gold.”
Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), pati na rin ang world champions Nesty Petecio (boxing) at Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) ang mangunguna sa kampanya ng Philippine Team sa Tokyo Olympics.

Kabilang rin sa national team contingent si US Open womens winner at Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso (golf) kasama si world silver medalist Eumir Marcial (boxing) at world No.6 EJ Obiena (pole vault)

Kumompleto sa grupo ng 19 Filipino athletes sa games ay sina swimmers Luke Gebbie, Remedy Rule, sprinter Kristina Knott, rower Chris Nievarez, weightlifter Elreen Ando, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, air rifle shooter Jayson Valdez, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, boxers Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, golfers Juvic Pagunsan at Binaca Pagdanganan.