By Kristel Satumbaga
The Philippine Sports Commission is shifting its focus on strengthening the Olympic training program of athletes and coaches after a successful year that saw new world champions and Southeast Asian Games winners.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez (MB Photo / Alvin Kasiban)
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said this would be their main agenda on the first quarter of 2020 with hopes of seeing more qualifiers to the Tokyo Olympics in July.
“We plan to give more quality foreign exposures that will improve the athletes’ Olympic medal search,” he said. “Our target is to improve the nutrition, provide sports medicine, rehab, sports science and sports physiology.”
So far, only world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena have earned tickets to the Games with more qualification tournaments scheduled early next year for other sports like boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming and athletics.
Ramirez said the five-year plan strategy from the time he assumed post in 2017 is slowly bearing fruits after the country bagged overall championship in the 30th Southeast Asian Games with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.
The year 2019 also produced two world champions in Yulo and boxer Nesthy Petecio.
“It was really a five-year plan strategy,” Ramirez said. “I’m positive that (success will continue) if the national sports associations involved will continue working with us effectively like in the Philippine team.”
The country has yet to win an Olympic gold medal with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz coming close most recently with a silver finish at the 2016 Rio Games.
Source: Manila Bulletin
Xtra Sports ph 