Four PH wrestlers seek Olympic tickets
Published October 4, 2020, 1:15 PM
by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar
The Philippines will have four national wrestlers vie for Tokyo Olympic berths when qualifying competitions resume next year.
Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) president Alvin Aguilar said Noel Norada, Jason Baucas, Alvin Lobreguito and Jiah Pingot have the best chances of earning slots to the Games owing to their performances at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games last December.
Norada and Baucas captured the gold medals in the 60kg and 63kgs divisions of the men’s Greco-Roman while Lobreguito and Pingot won silver medals in the 57kg men’s and 50kg freestyle events.
“Inaantay lang naming kung anong sasabihin ng IF (International Federation) kung saan at kailan gaganapin,” said Aguilar in Philippine Sports Commission’s weekly online forum “PSC Hour”.
“As soon as we find out, we have to go to all.”
Aguilar added they also had an option to make the cut through a wildcard entry, but chances will also be as tough.
He also stressed the need for serious training with his athletes since 2021 is just a few months away.
They have already prepared health protocols for their planned training and are just waiting for the go signal.