After a solid showing in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Philippine Olympic Committee now focuses on getting more qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
So far, the Philippines has four qualified athletes for the 26 July to 11 August Olympics and POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino feels the number could surpass the 19 deployed for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
The Philippines finished this year’s Asiad with four gold, two silver and 12 bronze medals to finish at 17th place.
“We had 19 Olympians last year. That’s not enough. A lot more will be on the way,” Tolentino said in a press conference late Sunday.
“Hopefully we could get 10 or more athletes. Maybe even 20 athletes.”
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan and boxer Eumir Marcial have already booked their slots for the Summer Games.
Olympians Eric Cray and Kristina Knott are still trying to join by hitting the qualifying marks in various meets until 30 June 2024.
Taekwondo hopeful Kurt Bautista and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz are also joining qualifying tournaments to book a slot in the biggest multi-sport event in the world.
Also, the boxing team will be out to make up for its lackluster performance in Hangzhou as it eyes foreign qualifying meets in the coming months.
The Philippines had its best campaign in the Summer Games in 2021 with a 1-2-1 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.
