Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
HANGZHOU, CHINA—The plan to make use of the Asian Video games (Asiad) as a simpler path to the Paris Olympics yielded only one ticket to the Summer time Video games to this point.
Which means there can be a mad scramble for extra slots to the 2024 Olympiad within the subsequent 9 months or so.
Boxer Eumir Felix Marcial punched a ticket to the glamorous French capital after making the ultimate of the boys’s 80-kilogram division within the continental showcase.
“I hope there can be extra,” mentioned Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino late Sunday evening at a dinner he hosted for the Asiad medalists in Manila.
Marcial ended up settling for a silver, however he was in a superb temper throughout that gathering—a mix of being optimistic about his Olympic bid and getting the outcome he prayed for in one other kind.
“I prayed that I’d get the Asian Video games gold and even when I settled for the silver, I really feel like my prayers had been answered as a result of my countrymen consider I ought to have gained the gold,” Marcial mentioned.
“Eumir gained the bronze in Tokyo (Olympics) and the silver within the Asian Video games. So possibly the subsequent is [the gold] in Paris,” Tolentino mentioned.
Tokyo silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio failed of their bids to seize return tickets to the Olympics and must resort to 2 qualification home windows subsequent 12 months—one in Italy in February and one other in Thailand—to attempt to make it to Paris.
“We’re not but achieved. I can’t wait to return to the gymnasium to organize onerous for the qualifying,’’ mentioned Petecio in Filipino after she was ushered out of the ladies’s 57-kg class even earlier than the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist in her first bout.
Paalam received eradicated within the quarterfinals.
“My opponents are large and sensible, too. I’m slowly adjusting [at 57 kg], however I’m nonetheless weighing my choices,’’ mentioned Paalam.
To this point the Philippines has certified 4 athletes to Paris: Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan in addition to Marcial.
“I’ll have no less than two [professional] fights earlier than my Paris coaching, one in December and one other one early subsequent 12 months,’’ mentioned Marcial.
Weightlifting celeb Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, the nation’s lone Olympic gold medal in historical past, is seeking to qualify for a Philippine file fifth consecutive Olympics and is starting to fall in love together with her probabilities.
“To this point, I’m pleased with my progress. I’ve change into stronger and must be at fifth or sixth [among the possible participants in the Olympics]. I simply should carry on working,’’ mentioned Diaz, who wants to finish two extra tournaments to achieve Paris entry.
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Swimmer Kayla Noelle Sanchez failed to fulfill the qualification requirements and admitted she was nonetheless working her means again to high kind and must be prepared in a number of extra qualifying races shifting ahead. INQ