POC counting on 11 bets for Rio Olympics

MANILA, Philippines – At the least, with the Rio Olympics moving in fast, the Philippines will match the same number of 11 athletes it sent to the 2012 London Olympics, according to chef-de-mission Jose Romasanta.

There are five athletes with confirmed bookings to Rio for the Olympics set Aug. 5-21. They are boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez, long jump specialist Marestella Torres, taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora and table tennis ace Ian Lariba.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and track and field’s Eric Cray both have one foot in the Rio Olympics. In no time, they will receive the final confirmation from their respective IFs (international federations).

Romasanta said while it’s no longer that easy to gain entry to the Olympics via the wild card berths now known as universality places, the Philippines is still counting on two slots in swimming courtesy of FINA (international swimming  federation).

There are four Filipino swimmers still seeking inclusion to the Rio Games by gaining the minimum standard. They are Jasmine Alkhaldi, Jessie King Lacuna, Joshua Hall and Roxanne Yu.

On July 3, FINA will release the final roster for the Rio Olympics, and two of the four Filipino hopefuls should earn inclusion, including Lacuna and Alkhaldi, who are both veterans of the 2012 Olympics.

Romasanta said golfers Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que are inside the magic number of 60 players from around the world who will compete in Rio.

Tabuena is in 37th spot while Que is at No, 52.

Romasanta, however, said the two golfers should stay inside the Top 60 until the cutoff date of July 5.

“They have to continue playing in Olympic qualifying tournaments because there are golfers trying to catch up,” said the vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

With two swimmers and two golfers, the Philippines can have at least 11 athletes vying in Rio.

“I hope things happen. We can reach eleven. But we’re still expecting more athletes to qualify,” he said, referring to BMX rider and Asian Games gold medalist Daniel Caluag and fellow rider Sienna Fines, sprinter Kayla Richardson and pole vault athlete EJ Obiena.

Three more boxers, led by welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial, will still vie in the final qualifying event in Baku, Azerbaijan next month.The others are flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and bantamweight Mario Fernandez.