Bianca thinks golf can produce Olympic gold

MANILA, Philippines — Thanks to a slew of world champions and contenders, the Philippines has a strong chance of claiming its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo this year. And Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour campaigner Bianca Pagdanganan thinks it may come from golf.

“I think it’s important to aim high and I think it’s possible,” said Pagdanganan during yesterday’s online presser hosted by Smart, which recently named her as its ambassador.

“Seeing how we played through the years, the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games, I think we do have a good chance especially with the players we have now at the moment. It would be pretty cool if golf can give us a (Olympic) gold medal,” she added.

The 23-year-old Pagdanganan, who is currently in the country for a brief vacation, is one of the three Filipinas in the running to claim one of the 60 slots to the Summer Games set July 23 to Aug. 8 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama as she is presently ranked No. 40 in the Olympic rankings.

The other two are Yuka Saso, who is at No. 26, and Dottie Ardina, who is at No. 57 but is relegated as first alternate since only two entries are allowed per country.

Apart from the golfers, four Filipinos have qualified to Tokyo – world champion gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno.