The women’s field was finalized on Monday, June 24, at the conclusion of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship -- the third women’s major of the season -- Pagdanganan and Ardina made it inside the Top 60 of the Rolex Olympic rankings.
Golfers Pagdanganan, Ardina qualify for Paris Olympics; PH Aquatics nominate Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch for quota places
Jun 25, 2024 00:54 AM
At a glance
Golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina have formalized their entry to the Philippine team that would compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics following the end of the qualification period over the weekend.
The women’s field was finalized on Monday, June 24, at the conclusion of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship -- the third women’s major of the season -- with Pagdanganan and Ardina making it inside the Top 60 of the Rolex Olympic rankings.
Pagdanganan was ranked No. 36 while Ardina was at 56th.
This would be Pagdanganan’s second Olympic stint after competing in the 2020 Tokyo Games where she finished tied for 43rd place.
Ardina, for her part, actually qualified for the 2016 Rio Games, but declared herself unable to compete due to the Zika virus threat.
Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso also earned a return trip to the Olympics, this time competing for Japan.
She propelled from being fourth-ranked to No. 1 Japanese player in the field following her victory at the 2024 US Women’s Open.
Saso competed for Team Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo edition where she finished ninth.
The golf competition in Paris will be held at the Le Golf Tournament in Guyancourt from Aug. 1 to 4 for men's, and Aug. 7 to 10 for women's.
Meanwhile, Philippine Aquatics Inc. has nominated Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch for the two allocated quotas under the universality rule in swimming.
The nomination was submitted last Monday, June 24, where World Aquatics will finalize and send confirmation on or before July 3, with Sanchez expected to see action in the women's 100-meter freestyle and Hatch in the men's 100m butterfly.
Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe is also set to clinch an Olympic berth pending the official announcement of the International Judo Federation (IJF).
The Fil-Japanese is in line to get one of the two continental quotas reserved for Asia in the women’s -63kg division with her world ranking.
With the development, they will join early Filipino qualifiers composed of pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan; weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, Levi Ruivivar and Aleah Finnegan; rower Joanie Delgaco; and fencer Samantha Catantan.
More athletes are expected to qualify particularly in athletics.