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Filipino athletes hopeful of landing a seat in the coming Beijing
Olympic Games must have to make it through separate qualifying
tournaments in their respective sports.
This developed after the International Olympic
Committee has ruled that only third world countries or those
categorized as poor will be entitled to wild card entries in the
August 8 to 24 edition of the quadrennial conclave.
Poor countries are those who could not send more
than five athletes due to financial constraints, Philippine Olympic
committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco explained in a
recent interview.
With still several Olympic qualifying
competitions scheduled in some sports, 13 Filipino athletes have
already qualified.
At least 17 more athletes in four sports are
eyeing berths in separate qualifying competitions scheduled late
this month in the hope of joining those who had already earned
slots.
These are fencers Walbert Mendoza, Emerson Segui,
Joanna Franquelli, Michelle Mancenido, Avelino Victorino Jr. and
Michelle Bruzola; judokas John Baylon, Tomohiko Hoshina, Gilbert
Ramirez, Nancy Quillotes and June Awakan; rowers Nilo Cordova, Alvin
Amposta, Miolle Gabiligno and Jose Rodeiguezaa; and tennis players
Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino.
Olympic qualifying tournament in fencing is set
in Bangkok on August 22 to 29, judo in Korea on August 23 to 28 and
rowing in Shanghai on August 25 to 27. Meanwhile United States-based
Mamiit and Taino have been competing in several tournaments in the
West Coast in a bid to get tickets to Beijing.
Despite the IOC ruling, Philippine National
Shooting association president Arturo Macapagal is flying to Beijing
Tuesday to work for the entry of trap shooter Eric Ang in the
Olympic shooting competitions.
Tac Padilla, chair of the youth development
committee of the PNSA said during last week’s SCOOP sa Kamayan
that shooting is not included in the IOC pronouncement because
competitions in the sport are held under the auspices of the
international federation.
Already qualified in the Olympics are boxer
Harry Tanamor; archer Mark Javier; swimmers Ryan Arabejo, Miguel
Molina, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh and Christel Simms; divers
Sheila Mae Perez and Rexel Fabriga; tae kwon do jins Marie
Antoinette Rivero and Tsomlee Go and the still unknown pair of
tracksters.
-- Eddie Alinea
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