Elreen Ando. | AFP Photo via Inquirer
TOKYO—Not one of the 19 Filipino athletes who competed in the pandemic Tokyo Olympics will be left behind, according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“The non-medalists in the Tokyo Olympics will receive incentives of P500,000 each,” said Tolentino as the Philippine medal campaign boiled down to boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Carlo Paalam and golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso on Thursday morning.
The POC and the MVP Sports Foundation of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan will reward the non-medalists on Team Philippines.
They are rowing’s Cris Nievarez, taekwondo’s Kurt Barbosa, skateboarding’s Margielyn Didal, shooting’s Jayson Valdez, gymnastics’ Carlos Yulo, boxing’s Irish Magno, judo’s Kiyomi Watanabe, weightlifting’s Elreen Ando, golf’s Juvic Pagunsan, athletics’ EJ Obiena (pole vault), and Kristina Knott (200m) and swimming’s Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie.
“Everyone on Team Philippines in these ‘Golden Olympics’ deserve all the praises, and in this case, incentives, they need,” Tolentino said. “Qualifying for the Olympics is already that difficult, what more competing in the Games themselves.
Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s weightlifting, while Nesthy Petecion clinched a silver in women’s boxing.
Marcial and Paalam are guaranteed of a bronze medal each while Pagdanganan and Saso stayed within striking distance in women’s golf as of Thursday morning.
READ MORE: Ando finishes 7th in women’s weightlifting in Tokyo