Didal optimistic of Olympic entry

MANILA, Philippines — Asian and Southeast Asian Games skateboard queen Margielyn Didal is optimistic she would qualify to the Tokyo Olympics if the qualifying competitions are called off.

“I’m confident I’ll qualify,” said the 21-year-old Didal during yesterday’s online Philippine Sports Commission Hour.

A maximum of 20 qualifiers are allowed per event – men’s park and street, and women’s park and street – in skateboarding in Tokyo.

Didal is ranked 14th in the world and should rank higher than that since only three entries are allowed per country.

The world qualifying in boxing in Paris, France in June has already been scratched, leaving organizers with the rankings as basis for the qualifiers. And this could mean outright entry for  2019 world women’s champion Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam in their respective divisions.

Didal could take the same route.

“The first two qualifiers were already cancelled and there is a chance the third and fourth would also be called off, leaving only two qualifiers,” said Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines president Carl Sambrano. “But if the Olympics were to start today (yesterday), Margie would be in.”