Surfers go for Olympic berth in world meet

MANILA, Philippines — Surfing would try to duplicate what rowing did when the latter through Cris Nievarez claimed a Tokyo Olympics berth.

John Mark Tokong will be at the forefront of the country’s campaign when a six-strong Phl squad plunges into action in the World Surf Games set May 29 to June 6 in El Salvador where Olympic slots are at stake.

“Kaya natin,” said United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) president Dr. Jose Raul Canlas.

The team consisting of Tokong, Nilbie Blancada, Edito Alcala, Roger Esquivel Jr., Daisy Valdez and Vea Estrellado will leave for El Salvador on May 17. The best male and female Asians in the meet secure seats to the Tokyo Olympics in July.

Blancada delivered one of the two gold medals the country won in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in La Union.