EDITORS DESK
While there’s a lot to be desired for an encore that should put more pressure on the national athletes in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the gains of the 2024 season could have built enough momentum for the Filipino competitors to scale greater heights in the year ahead.
Sure, the Paris feat of gymnast Carlos Yulo and the consistent triumph of the boxers highlighted by the strong showing of Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio gave the entire sports community the needed motivation to get the ball rolling and execute the exact masterplan toward a loftier goal in three years time, but there lies the tournaments in the calendar that should be hurdled first before realizing the American dream in the bustling California city.
First of all the major competitions in 2025 is the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China from Feb. 7 to 14, a tournament that poses a great challenge for those who are eyeing a spot in the Winter Olympics next year in Italy. The country has never won a “winter” medal but Yulo’s impeccable performance along with Hidilyn Diaz’s victory in Tokyo back in 2021 are solid proof that there’s nothing impossible for the brave Filipino athletes.
Bannering Team Philippines in the Chinese city that is famous for its skiing resorts is newly naturalized figure skater Aleksandr Korovin and partner Isabella Gamez.
The Russian-born Korovin has already been joining tournaments with Gamez even before he could actually earn his citizenship last Dec. 20.
Next is the 12th World Games which will happen from Aug. 7 to 17 in Chengdu, also in China. So far, comprising the delegation are cue artists Rubilen Amit and Jeff de Luna, the dragon boat team that impressed in the ICF World Championships held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last October, the men’s floorball team, and kickboxer Hergie Bacyadan.
There’s also the third Asian Youth Olympic Games from Oct. 22 to 31 in Bahrain, and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand from Dec. 9 to 20.
The country is hoping to surpass its previous haul of 58 gold, 86 silver, and 116 bronze medals in the 2023 Cambodia edition where the Filipinos finished fifth in the standings.
Big guns Yulo, EJ Obiena of pole vault, Carlo Paalam of boxing, and the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team will surely be targeting the top prize after stamping their class two years ago in the biennial meet.
The leaderships of the Philippine Sports Commission, under Richard Bachmann, and the Philippine Olympic Committee of President Abraham Tolentino are moving heaven and earth to guarantee the best support for the national athletes in these international tournaments.
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The Philippine Sportswriters Association will be recognizing the top performers of 2024 on Jan. 27 at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Hotel, with Carlos Yulo the consensus choice for the Athlete of the Year award.
For his golden achievements in Paris last August, the pride of Leveriza, Manila will receive the highest recognition from the oldest media organization in the country, joining the ranks of fellow Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, EJ Obiena, Yuka Saso, and sports legends Manny Pacquiao and Paeng Nepomuceno.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, headed by Cynthia Carrion, is the NSA of the Year, while boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio will be cited with the President’s Award.
(Ramon Rafael Bonilla is the Sports Editor of Manila Bulletin)