By Nick Giongco

Top boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, who recently earned Tokyo Olympic berths, are both quarantined in their respective homes as with other national team members.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary-general Ed Picson said Marcial is staying in his house in Dasmariñas, Cavite, while Magno is in a rented room in Baguio City.

Both fighters are observing quarantine protocol as they are coming off a stint in the March 3-11 Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Amman, Jordan.

Five other fighters competed there and they are likewise staying behind closed doors, most of them billeted at the Cooyeesan Hotel in the Pines City.

Only Marcial and Magno made the Olympic grade and Picson is advising not only them but the rest to make the most out of their free time.

“We advised them to stay safe, healthy and fit. Sanay naman sila sa active rest, so they know what to do,” said Picson, who joined them in the Jordan slugfest and likewise placed himself in quarantine for 14 days.

Picson made special mention of Marcial and Magno’s discipline, adding they share a terrific work ethic.

With sporting events on hold owing to the pandemic, nobody’s sure when everything returns to normalcy.

Even the July 24-Aug. 9 Olympics are in danger of being postponed or even cancelled altogether.

Just the same, Marcial and Magno have been told to remain busy so they can easily ease back to form once the dust settles.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has suspended all remaining tournaments for the next two months including the Badminton Asia Championships 2020 that the country is hosting on April 21 to 26.

The suspension was in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis, which has been continuously spreading across the globe.

The tournament was initially schedule to take place in Wuhan, China but organizers moved it to Manila following the former’s lockdown due to the pandemic.

But the rapid spread of the virus has forced the federation, as well as other major international tournament organizers, to put their events on hold.

“The health, safety and well-being of all athletes, their entourage, officials and the greater badminton community remain as the to priority,” the BWF statement read.

Also postponed were the Thomas and Uber Cup, the European Championships, Pan Am Individual Championships, Croatian International and Peru International – important meets for players seeking points to earn berths at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Last February, the country hosted the 2020 Badminton Asia Team Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum that served as a qualifier to the Thomas and Uber Cup originally scheduled in Aarhus, Denmark in May.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Pressure mounted on Olympic organizers to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Games on Saturday after the powerful US track and field federation urged for this summer’s event to be pushed back due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

USA Track and Field became the latest influential sporting body to ask for the Games to be called off after its head Max Siegel “respectfully requested” in a letter that the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) “advocate … for the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.”

USOPC had said it was too soon to axe the July 24-August 9 Games, much like International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach, who said that it would be “premature” to make such a big decision.

“The right and responsible thing to do is to prioritise everyone’s health and safety and appropriately recognise the toll this difficult situation has, and continues to take, on our athletes and their Olympic Games preparations,” wrote Siegel.

USATF joined a growing chorus of calls from sports organisations to push back the Olympics a day after the country’s swimming federation asked USOPC to back a postponement until 2021.

“We urge the USOPC, as a leader within the Olympic Movement, to use its voice and speak up for the athletes,” USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey said in a letter.

That request for a delay was echoed on Saturday by France’s swimming federation which said that the Games could not be organised properly in the “current context”.

The Norwegian Olympic Committee (NOC) quickly followed, saying that it had sent a letter to the IOC on Friday motivated in part by a Norwegian government ban on organised sports activities which had created “a very challenging time for the sports movement in Norway”.

“Our clear recommendation is that the Olympic Games in Tokyo shall not take place before the COVID-19 situation is under firm control on a global scale,” the NOC said in the letter.

IOC ‘putting us in danger’

The new chairman of the United Kingdom’s athletics governing body also questioned the need to hold the Olympics this summer given the uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19, which has killed nearly 11,500 people worldwide.

“To leave it where it is is creating so much pressure in the system. It now has to be addressed,” head of UK Athletics Nic Coward told the BBC.

However, on Friday, Bach defended the IOC’s refusal to cancel the Olympics by saying that the Games were further away than other shelved events, such as football’s European Championship which was due to start in mid-June and was moved to 2021.

“We are four-and-a-half months away from the Games,” Bach told the New York Times.

“For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now.”

Athletes lashed out at IOC advice to continue training “as best they can”, with Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi accusing the body of “putting us in danger”.

“The IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family’s health and public health to train every day?” asked a perplexed Stefanidi.

World champion fencer Race Imboden of the United States said on Twitter that he was “worried” about the prospect of the Olympics going ahead.

“We keep being told the Olympic Games are happening. Starting to realize it’s more important to have the games go on than the athletes be prepared or mentally healthy.”

But USOPC chairwoman Susanne Lyons insisted on Friday that organizers had time on their side.

“We don’t have to make a decision. Our games are not next week, or two weeks from now. They’re four months from now,” Lyons said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin, the first Asian-American to win an NBA title, has rebuked US President Donald Trump for “empowering” racism by calling coronavirus (COVID-19) a “Chinese virus.”

The 31-year-old backcourt standout, whose 2012 heroics for the New York Knicks were dubbed “Linsanity”, ripped Trump in comments on Twitter.

Trump has repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus,” with the White House defending his use of the term by comparing it to other diseases which bear a geographical reference in their title.

🤦‍♂️I wish you would powerfully support the vulnerable people that will suffer due to our mismanagement of this virus, including those that will be affected by the racism you’re empowering https://t.co/QfRHiOFGEm

— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) March 17, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“Wish you would powerfully support the vulnerable people that will suffer due to our mismanagement of this virus, including those that will be affected by the racism you’re empowering,” Lin said.

“And I dont wanna hear about no German measles/Spanish flu bc everyday Asian-Americans inc ppl I know are threatened and physically attacked. I dont give a crap about the history of names rn.

“What I do know is this subtle anti-Chinese message only empowers more hate towards asians.

When Trump defenders took him to task in Twitter replies, Lin responded.

“Can you honestly tell me there is ZERO anti-Chinese sentiment in all his characterizations of the virus?” Lin wrote.

“Can you honestly tell me Asians aren’t being unfairly physically attacked today in the US? Is it that hard to use coronavirus or COVID-19? We playin the blame game in a crisis.”

Lin, the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA, followed his star turn with the Knicks with NBA stops at Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Atlanta and Toronto, where he was part of last year’s NBA championship squad.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

University of Georgia star guard Anthony Edwards declared his eligibility for the 2020 NBA Draft on Friday, ending his college career after a single season.

Edwards, considered a top candidate to be the overall number one pick in the next NBA Draft, led all US collegiate freshmen with 19.1 points a game.

He also contributed 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals a contest for a Bulldogs squad that went 16-16 before their season was ended by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Georgia will always be my home but I’m ready to take my game to the next level and have decided to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft,” Edwards wrote in a Twitter posting.

“I hope I have made you all proud but the work is far from finished… I’m excited for what the future holds.

“The next chapter starts now. Let’s get it.”

The 18-year-old from Atlanta stands 6-foot-5 (1.96m) and weighs 225 pounds (102kg) and is widely considered no worse than a top-five pick in the draft, an exact spot depending on the needs of whichever club wins the NBA Draft Lottery.

Exactly how an order will be determined for the NBA Draft, or when it might be conducted, remain uncertain in the wake of the league’s shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

The NBA launched a global social engagement campaign Friday aimed at educating, inspiring and helping people respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has shut down the league season.

The “NBA Together” program will include daily Instagram interviews with players and others in the NBA, educational programs, online content aimed at youth who can’t play with friends and a call for “one million acts of kindness” through volunteering and community activity.

The NBA suspended the season last week after a player tested positive for coronavirus with no timetable for a return.

RELATED: Celtics’ Marcus Smart, 2 Lakers, 3 Sixers test positive for COVID-19

The league wants to contribute and help raise more than $50 million to support people hit by coronavirus, including more than $30 million already committed by NBA and Women’s NBA players and teams.

A series of public service videos has been made by 18 NBA and Women’s NBA players to share health and wellness information about ways to reduce the coronavirus spread. They have been watched more than 37 million times on NBA social media outlets.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

US Olympic chiefs said Friday more time was needed to determine the fate of the Tokyo Olympics as a major US sports federation called for the Games to be postponed over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a conference call with reporters, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) chairwoman Susanne Lyons said there was no need for the International Olympic Committee to make an immediate decision on Tokyo.

“I think we would concur with the IOC to say that we need more expert advice and information than we have today to make a decision,” Lyons said.

“And we don’t have to make a decision. Our games are not next week, or two weeks from now. They’re four months from now.

“So we are affording the IOC the opportunity to gather that information and expert advice.

“At this point in time, we do not feel that it’s necessary for us to insist that they make a decision.”

But just hours after Lyons’ comments, USA Swimming underscored the growing divisions within US sport on the issue by calling for USOPC to request a postponement.

In an open letter to the USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland, swimming federation boss Tim Hinchey said US Olympic leaders should “advocate for the postponement” of the Tokyo Games.

“We urge the USOPC, as a leader within the Olympic Movement, to use its voice and speak up for the athletes,” Hinchey wrote.

USA Swimming is the biggest US sports federation to call for a postponement.

Friday’s statement came against a backdrop of mounting unease among athletes over the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on their preparations for Tokyo.

Several have called on the IOC to postpone the July 24-August 9 Games, noting that restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 have wreaked havoc with training and competition schedules.

Lives ‘upside down’

Hinchey said American swimmers’ lives had been “turned upside down” as they scrambled to find training facilities or reconfigure schedules.

“Everyone has experienced unimaginable disruptions, mere months before the Olympic Games, which calls into question the authenticity of a level playing field for all,” Hinchey said.

USA Swimming’s stance found support from Bob Bowman, the former coach of Olympic star Michael Phelps, who said athletes were being placed in danger as they sought out places to train.

“My concern is as they are trying to find places to train and work out, it goes against what we’re supposed to be doing to not get the coronavirus,” Bowman told USA Today. “It’s forcing them to try to do things that are contrary to our national goal right now.”

Former US Olympic distance runner Kara Goucher, meanwhile, accused Olympic chiefs of placing financial considerations above athlete safety.

“Athletes are humans, they get sick!” Goucher wrote on Twitter. “Postpone so they can #ShelterAtHome w/o worrying about losing fitness to competitors!

“You are losing any credibility that you care about the wellness of athletes! Athletes over money please!”

The USOPC responded Friday to Hinchey’s letter in a joint statement from Hirshland and Lyons.

“The USOPC has complete and total empathy for the athlete community as they manage the terrible stress and anxiety caused by the current lack of certitude regarding the Tokyo Games,” the statement said.

“We understand that the athletes have concerns about training, qualification and anti-doping controls, and that they want transparency, communication and clarity to the full extent possible.

“The USOPC has made it clear that all athletes should put their health and wellness, and the health and wellness of the greater community, above all else at this unprecedented moment.

“At the same time, and as it relates to the Games, we have also heard from athletes that they want the Olympic and Paralympic community to be very intentional about the path forward – and to ensure that we aren’t prematurely taking away any athletes’ opportunity to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games until we have better clarity.”

Hirshland told reporters that athletes were not unanimously in favor of the Olympics being postponed.

“As diverse as our athletes are, so too are their perspectives, and that adds to the complication factor,” Hirshland said.

“There are athletes out there for whom this feels like their only opportunity, their last chance. I don’t think we’re in a position where all athletes have a unanimous point of view.”

She said additional mental health resources were being made available to athletes as they grapple with “significant anxiety.”

“We are all living with a high degree of uncertainty and a lack of clarity, and we absolutely hope that we can have clarity as soon as that’s practical,” Hirshland said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella is optimistic the International Weightlifting Federation will get a favorable response from the International Olympic Committee with whatever modifications were made for Tokyo Olympics aspirants.

“I’m hoping that it’s a positive response from the IOC,” said Puentevella when contacted by The Manila Bulletin.

“What the IWF decided has to be approved by the IOC, so whatever the IWF discussed, we still have to wait on the IOC decision. But I’m hoping for the best.”

The international body for weightlifting met recently in Lausanne, Switzerland where it made changes, according to to the IWF website, on the Tokyo Games qualification following the cancelation of various Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) in different regions due to COVID-19.

The IWF didn’t disclose, however, what modifications were made, leaving it to the IOC to first approve the federation’s recommendation before making any announcement.

One of the major issues for the IWF is the required number of OQTs for Olympic hopefuls, which stands at six events, with only the top eight per division will advance.

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, for instance, is currently at No. 5 in the 55kg women’s category with 3,717.0982 points behind three Chinese weightlifters in Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wangqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223).

Only one Chinese weightlifter will advance to the Olympics since only one athlete per country is eligible.

However, since Diaz has only joined five OQTs, she remains one short of the required number and may be facing disqualification unless the IWF modifies its rules, with the IOC’s approval.

Puentevella said this the situation is different following the cancelation of tournaments due to COVID-19, including the Asian Championship next month where Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both begged off.

“It’s not the fault of the athletes. If they can tell us where and when, we’ll join. Although with the lockdown in almost all counties, I think that cannot be done since the IWF also mentioned that no more qualifiers until end of April,” he said.

Diaz, 28, was supposed to join the South American-Ibero American and Open Senior’s Championship in Cali, Colombia, but a travel ban on Asians and Europeans was imposed the government of Colombia.

READ MORE: Hidilyn Diaz awaits IWF decision

The said event, as well as next month’s Pan-American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was postposed by the IWF due to the same COVID-19 health crisis.

Other local weightlifters needing to compete for their sixth OQT but whose tournaments were called off are Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon, Rio Olympic veteran Nestor Colonia, as well as Eileen Ando, John Ceniza and Mary Flor Diaz.

RELATED: Kuala Lumpur lockdown forces Hidilyn Diaz to leave training center

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

While acknowledging that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is a formidable foe, fighting senator Manny Pacquiao Saturday vowed to lend a hand to people severely affected by the worsening pandemic.

Saying he is “not afraid to die,” Pacquiao told the Manila Bulletin he fears of looting in the coming weeks if the poor and those “living in the streets” don’t get fed.

“Chaos ‘yan. At ito ang kinakakatakutan ko na maaring mangyari,” said Pacquiao, who donated five buses to the government to ferry health workers around Metro Manila.

Pacquiao remains to be the most visible lawmaker making the rounds amid the coronavirus outbreak and the boxing champion insists he won’t lower his guard.

“If you are a leader, you have to be a frontliner,” said the 41-year-old Pacquiao, who is awaiting the arrival of testing kits and face masks from China.

Notwithstanding the serious threats it poses to health, Pacquiao feels it is his duty to risk even his life.

“Leader ka so you have to lead and let people see that you are with them,” he said. “Hindi ka dapat magtago dahil takot ka mamatay.

“I grew up poor kaya I know what they (poor people) feel.”

With the world gripped by the pandemic, Pacquiao’s focus is on public service, which means his boxing career will have to be sidelined for the meantime.

“Ito muna ang bigyan natin ng attention,” he said.

Pacquiao had earlier eyed a ring return in July but given the current situation, his focus has drastically shifted away from boxing to public service.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas coach Jimmy Alapag could only lament the missed opportunities with new imports Justin Brownlee and John Fields after the ASEAN Basketball League was forced to suspend its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brownlee and Fields never got a chance to play after the league postponed several games and eventually the season as the virus forced countries that have ABL teams to implement stricter preventive measures.

“Obviously we were all very disappointed we didn’t get a chance to see our team together with Justin and John on the court together,” Alapag told the Manila Bulletin.

Alab was groomed for brighter things after securing the services of Brownlee, who in January led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to the PBA Governors’ Cup title.

The team also signed Fields, who had an impressive stint with the Columbian Dyip in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup and the Singapore Slingers in the previous ABL campaign.

Both were expected to boost Alab’s title chances after dealing with a topsy-turvy campaign with imports Adrian Forbes, Khalif Wyatt, Prince Williams and 7-foot-5 center Sam Deguara.

Brownlee and Fields were supposed to make their debut last March 7 against the Slingers in Singapore but the ABL was forced to postpone the game after the latter’s import Jameel McKay was put on quarantine.

“We were all excited about the possibility of making another run at the championship, but with the threat of the COVID-19 virus affecting the entire world, the ABL made the right decision to suspend the season indefinitely to protect everyone,” Alapag said.

Brownlee, Fields, third import Nick King and Fil-Americans Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Gray and Lawrence Domingo have since returned to the United States, but not before Alab owner Charlie Dy hosted a get-together for the team.

Alapag, on the other hand, continues to keep in touch with his players.

“Just keeping tabs with everyone,” he said. “The virus is obviously affecting everyone around the world. Just encouraging my guys to stay safe with their family and loved ones.”

Source: Manila Bulletin