FIVE more Filipinos are targeting Olympic slots in the waters of Tokyo Bay in the World Rowing Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta from May 5 to 7, according to Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) President Patrick Gregorio.
“They all have chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics,” Gregorio told the BusinessMirror on Thursday, referring to Melcah Jen Caballero, Joanie Delgaco, Cris Nievarez, Roque Abala and Zuriel Sumintac.
The five were responsible for three gold medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and Gregorio said they want to bring their winning act to bag tickets to the July 23 to August 8 Olympics.
Sumintac and Abala will compete in men’s lightweight double sculls, Caballero and Delgaco will vie in women’s lightweight women double sculls and Nievarez in men’s single sculls.
There are 12 entries in each of the double sculls events and the top three finishers will advance to the Olympics. There are 17 entries in the single sculls competitions and the top five will earn tickets to Japan.
Gregorio said they are expecting tough challenges from China, Korea, Iran, host Japan and Uzbekistan.
Head Coach Edgardo Macabitas Maerina said the team leaves for Tokyo on Saturday. The rowers won’t undergo quarantine but would be subjected to RT-PCR tests.
The athletes and coaches underwent local testing on Thursday.
“We are very confident of the capability of our athletes because they are well-prepared,” said Maerina, the first Filipino to compete in Olympic rowing in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. “We need to be brave in the competition.”
Benjamin Tolentino was the last Filipino rower to vie in the Olympics in Sydney 2000.