MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco said the other night that the unthinkable will happen in the 2020 OIympics in Tokyo.
“Five gold medals in the Olympics,” he said.
“I’m just being practical. That’s what I see in the NSAs (national sports associations) now. That’s my calculation. And it’s not very high (expectations). If I say 10 gold medals then that will be high,” he said.
Since 1924, the Philippines has only won three silver and seven bronze medals in the Olympics.
Cojuangco made the statement during the thanksgiving party for the Philippine delegation that brought home two gold medals, 14 silvers and 14 bronzes from the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Cojuangco did not mention the sport or sports that will deliver the elusive gold in the Olympics but hinted that there are two athletes who have very strong chances of winning in Tokyo.
“I don’t want to mention the sports because it will put pressure on the sports. But that’s how I feel. A little more high-octane gasoline is needed,” he said.
“All we need is the training center. Without the training center we cannot achieve it,” he added.