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Díaz and Didal announce Filipino athletes competing for the Tokyo Olympics
Luisa Morales (Philstar.com) – January 2, 2021 – 1:16 pm
MANILA, Philippines – As it stands, Irish Magno is the only Filipina qualified for the delayed Tokyo Olympics later this year.
But the power of girls is destined to take over for more than a handful of Filipino athletes who are close to clinching a place in the quadrennial games.
Topping the list is Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medalist Hidilyn Díaz. The weightlifter awaits a possible last bid for a qualifying Olympic gold medal until 2021.
The 29-year-old will officially qualify for her fourth Olympics when she takes part in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan in March.
Diaz does not need to win or have a podium in the tournament to qualify, as she is currently second in the world in the women’s 55kg category.
The eight best athletes in the world for each of the weight categories qualify for the Olympic Games provided they have participated in at least six tournaments authorized by the International Weightlifting Federation.
Her participation in Uzbekistan will mark her sixth tournament and thus qualify her for a spot in the quadrennial games.
Meanwhile, also close to a ticket to Tokyo is 21-year-old skater Margielyn Didal.
Didal, who was recently nominated for Skater of the Year at the 2020 Asia Skateboarding Awards, is virtually qualified for the Summer Games if she maintains her 14th place in the world rankings.
The Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist hopes to become the Philippines’ bet on skateboarding’s debut at the Olympics.
Didal claimed double gold in the sport’s debut at the SEA Games last year.
Another Filipina expected to make the cut is pug Nesthy Petecio.
The Filipino boxer hoped to qualify for the Olympics in March 2020, but was derailed after losing to Japanese enemy Sena Irie.
Petecio hopes to make the country proud in his second bid for a place in the Games when he takes part in the world Olympic qualifiers in June, a month away from the Summer Games.
The 28-year-old was one outright victory away before her loss in March.
He hopes to join fellow boxer Magno in the Filipino contingent in the playoffs.
Karateka Junna Tsukii, meanwhile, will need to give one last push to move up the world rankings in order to reserve her place in the quadrennial event.
Currently tenth in the world rankings, Tsukii will have to be the best Asian on the Kumite-50kg women’s list.
There are four other Asians in the top 10, but Tsukii will only have to worry about two: Ranran Li from China and Sara Bahmanyar from Iran.
This is because two of the Asians in the Top 10 are from Japan and already have an automatic position as hosts.
If Tsukii can surpass both Li and Bahmanyar, the Filipino-Japanese Karateka will be able to represent the flag and the country on the biggest stage of sport.
Golfer Yuka Saso is also looking to add another accolade to her list of accomplishments with an Olympic spot.
Now ranked 21st on the official women’s reassignment reserve list, Saso will only have to climb to the Top 15 in the qualifying period before June 28 this year to get an automatic ticket to the Games.
Saso is expected to earn more in the rankings once the JLPGA resumes its 2020-21 integrated seasons in March.
These Filipinos will join the Philippine contingent of boxers Magno, Eumir Marcial, gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
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