HOUSE Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero praised shooter Jayson Valdez for qualifying for next month’s Tokyo Olympics, saying his time has finally come to make a difference.
“I have known him since his teenage days because he was part of my youth team when I was still the president of the shooting association,” Romero of 1-Pacman Partylist, said. “Im so happy Jayson finally fulfilled his dream as an athlete, I wish him and the rest of Team Philippines the best of luck.”
Having seen some of Valdez’s would-be rivals being part of the Philippine delegation to the London 2012 Games, Romero advised the 25-year-old Valdez to stay focused and determined.
“Since he’ll be playing for flag and country he has to give everything he’s got and should not be intimidated by his rivals,” Romero said. “But I know this young man, he’s gutsy.”
Romero played for the national shotgun team twice in the World Cup besides bankrolling the men’s basketball team that won the gold medal in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Romero said Valdez will be up against a bevy of top European shooters in the men’s air rifle 10-meter contest, including three-time champion Niccolo Camprian of Italy.
Believing this year is the country’s best chance to end the long search for the elusive Olympic gold, Romero called on the country’s sports leaders to give Valdez all the support he needs given his limited time to prepare and chase his Olympic dream.
Valdez became the 12th Filipino athlete to qualify to the Tokyo Games—thanks to the quota system implemented by the Munich-based International Shooting Sports Federation.
The last Filipino shooter to compete in the Olympics was Brian Rosario in London 2012 Games.
The 11 other Filipino qualifiers are boxers Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa, rower Cris Nievarez and weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Erleen Ann Ando.