Didal earns ticket to Tokyo Olympics

MANILA, Philippines — Margie Didal has virtually sealed a Tokyo Olympics berth after an inspiring performance in the Street Skateboarding World Championships 2021 in Rome Friday night.

The 22-year-old Didal, whose campaign is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF), failed to make it to the final eight and wound up at 17th overall with a total score of 8.04 in the semifinal round.

But it was enough to earn the Asian  Games and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist precious Olympic ranking points to keep her at 13th in the world and clinch her a spot to the quadrennial event.

“The official announcement of qualified skaters will only be released after the World Championships Finals in Rome, but Skate Pilipinas would like to be the first to announce that our very own Margielyn Didal has earned a slot to the Tokyo Olympics,” said the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines (SRAP) through its official Facebook page.

A total of 20 skateboarders will qualify to Tokyo – the eventual top three in Rome, a spot for Japan being the host and the top 16 in the world that have yet to secure a berth.

Didal went to Rome at No. 13 after another semis effort in the Dew Tour in Des Moines, Iowa last month and should keep her place there.

She will become the country’s 10th Tokyo qualifier joining pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Caloy Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, 2016 Rio Games weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, rower Cris Nievarez and taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa.