Joy Tabal off to KL for golden mission
Cebuana long distance runner Mary Joy Tabal vows to represent the Philippines with pride and honor in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated on August 19-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana long distance runner Mary Joy Tabal will be leaving for Malaysia today, bringing along with her an extra baggage of delivering gold medal for the Philippines in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated on August 19-30 in Kuala Lumpur.
Being the country’s undisputed marathon queen and record-holder, and on account of her historic feat as the first Filipina marathoner in the Olympics last year in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, expectations are high for Tabal to improve her silver-medal finish in the previous edition of the biennial sports conclave held in Singapore.
Tabal gamely admitted that being part of the elite Phl athletics team entails a lot of pressure, most especially that all eyes will be on her in the women’s marathon event right on opening day this Saturday (August 19).
“Pressure I think is part of every athlete because you are not doing it for yourself alone but for the country,” said the pride of Guba, a mountain barangay in Cebu City where she laid down the solid foundation of her humble beginnings.
“But for me, it’s more on loving the sport you are in. It’s doing the hardest you can so you will be able to achieve your goal.”
Tabal said being a national athlete comes with great responsibility and she intends to make the best out of it.
“It’s a national pride to be chosen to represent our country for an international competition,” said the veteran marathoner with stints in Boston, Los Angeles, Paris and Ottawa, Canada as part of her winning package for dominating the National Milo Marathon for the past four years.
With regards to her mission in the Malaysian capital, Tabal confidently expressed that not all that glitters are gold.
More than achieving that sparkling gilt, what matters most for Tabal is to fight for the flag and country with great pride and honor.
“I’m excited, nervous, thankful and hopeful. I will surely give a good fight. I will wear the flag with pride and honor, complete with a heart and I will fight like a warrior,” assured Tabal. (FREEMAN)
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