Another historic gold in Paris Olympics in the making by a Filipino or more- Tolentino

In an exclusive interview walking leisurely inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to watch the tune-up fight of his protege Paris Olympics-bound Felix Eumir Marcial against Thai Thoedsak Sinam he knocked out 1:33 of the fourth of the ten rounder, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said he wants Filipino athletes win another gold marking the 100 years Philippine participation historic, meaningful, significant and memorable to Filipinos past and present.

“That is my dream. I wish this will come to reality in Paris,” said Tolentino with hope on his face this will happen under his administration.

The Philippines first competed in the Olympics in 1924 in Paris with David Nepomuceno became the lone Filipino entry in the 100m and 200m.

Tolentino jokingly said Nepomuceno took long journey to Paris brave rain, bad weather thunderstorm and lightning on the high seas from Asia to Europe aboard a banca to reach Paris, the birthplace of father of modern Olympics Pierre Baron de Coubertein.

Philippines joined the Olympics eleven years before the POC was organized known before National Olympic Committee.

Being a positive thinker, Tolentino exudes confidence the Filipinos will do it no matter how tough and difficult they will undergo in their quest for personal glory, fame and fortune in Paris where the world’s famous Eiffel Tower is located.

POC president Bambol Tolentino

“I am pretty confident and optimistic our athletes will do it to collar the coveted medal,” exudes Tolentino.

“We had six athletes already qualified to the Olympic proper. I’m pretty sure more athletes will make. There are three more months before the qualification window ends in June,” stressed the former Congressman and current Tagaytay mayor.

Among the aspirants include Tokyo Olympic golden girl Hidilyn Diaz, Carlo Paalam, Annie Ramirez, Margarita Ochoa, Kaila Napolis, Jamie Lim, Erleen Ann Ando, Vanessa Sarno John Fabuar Ceniza, Sakura Alforte, JanryUbas, and three Filipino-Americans Robyn Brown, Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino.

Diaz competes in the last qualification IWF World Cup April 2-11 in Phukett, Thailand and Paalam see action with fellow national mainstays in the World Cup Boxing in June in Bangkok site of the 6th Asian Indoor and Mixed Martial Arts Games in November and 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

The shooters compete in the qualification slated in Rio de Janeiro and Germany. Rio de Janeiro was the site of 2016 Olympics Hidilyn Diaz won silver.

Tolentino target is to surpass the 20 delegation in 2020 in Tokyo and the 21 field in 2000 in Sydney, Australia.

“The way I look at it, there’s a good chance we can surpass the delegation in Tokyo and Sydney. Many things will happen before the qualification ends in June,” a confident Tolentino said.

Tokyo Olympics is the best performance of the Philippines with one gold courtesy of Diaz, two silvers on the heroics of Carlo Paalan and Nesthy Petecio and one bronze by Felix Marcial.

Diaz golden performance finally ended 97 years of drought in the Olympics, surpassing the silver won by Anthony Villanueva (1964 Tokyo), Mansueto Velasco (1996 Atlanta) and Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio (2020 Tokyo).

Tolentino appointed Philippine Rowing Honorary Chairman Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla delegation head to the Paris Summer Games. Remulla is the second delegation head did not hold positions in the National Sport Associations.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was the delegation head in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

Six athletes Ernest John Obiena, Carlos Yulo, Felix Eumir Marcial, Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas already qualified to Paris bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission.